Are Online Master’s Degrees Respected?

In a world where educational qualifications are listed on many job descriptions, you may wonder if online master’s degrees carry the same weight in the professional world as their in-person counterparts.

They’re certainly becoming more commonplace, according to Nick Botto, director of Career Services at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). And with asynchronous options, finding time in your schedule to complete them is easier.

“The fact of the matter is that in today's world, where people have many responsibilities and things on their plate, an online master's degree is ... an option that fits into individuals' lives,” Botto said.

But Are Online Master’s Degrees Taken Seriously?

Dr. Danny Tanguay said yes — and that the COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point. As the executive director of general education, first-year experience and education at SNHU, Tanguay said reputable online programs and traditional programs share the same standards. Those standards include:

• Academic rigor
• Accreditation requirements
• Faculty qualifications

What employers take more seriously than where you went to school is the transferability of what you learned. “Most employers typically focus on the relevance of your education, how effectively you apply your skills and the impact you make in your role," said Tanguay.

Because earning a degree online takes a certain level of discipline, you’ll likely hone skills important to any professional in any industry.

“If you’re coming from an online degree, I know that you are highly self-motivated,” said Brooke Brigham, a career engagement partner at SNHU. “And you are the type of person that I can probably give any task to, and you are going to be resourceful and complete that task within the deadline that we need it by.”

Do Employers Care if Your Master’s is Online?

Anyone earning their master’s degree online is working toward the same diploma as traditional campus students. And receiving that diploma can help job candidates check off an educational requirement or preferred qualification. It can also help bolster them in other ways.

When it comes down to it, Botto said employers are less concerned about where or how you went to school and more interested in how you can use your critical thinking and creativity to help an organization solve problems.

“(If) the experience that an individual had in pursuing their online master's degree helped equip them with the knowledge, skills and ability to target and approach the problems that an organization has, then that employer will likely be interested in learning more about that individual," Botto said.

This means it’s essential to be able to speak to the experience of earning your degree. To do that, Botto recommends reflecting on these questions:

• What skills did I gain?
• What knowledge did my program impart?
• How am I speaking to both when I talk with an employer?

Another attractive skill you can gain in an online program involves regularly using technology. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), technological literacy ranks third among the top 10 skills employers said are rising in importance for the next five years.

Online learners, Brigham noted, use technology in different ways every day — from communicating to researching, problem-solving and writing. You may even participate in remote internships or online career simulations, she said.

“Everything that you do might be online, (whether) you’re connecting or working or problem-solving,” Brigham said. "There's so much to that technology skill that is a service to our learners.”

Because online degrees are more accessible to full-time workers, online classrooms may be filled with students with varying professional backgrounds and experiences. As a result, Botto said, online students get to participate in an exchange of different perspectives – and that might appeal to employers, who are often looking for unique points of view.

And if you’re that professional — earning a master’s degree online while also juggling your career — lean into that.

You can say: "I have a unique and valuable perspective that I can bring to the table to help this organization think differently and creatively and more robustly about the problems that are presented to them,” Botto said. 

Read more: 6 Good Reasons to Earn Your Master's Online

Is an Online Master’s Degree Worth It?

“Without a doubt,” Tanguay said. He said online master’s degrees are especially worthwhile if you:

• Juggle multiple responsibilities
• Want a say in how your week is structured
• Thrive in digital learning environments

If you're wondering how to choose a graduate program, finding a school that can best position you for what’s next is important. Tanguay said to ensure that your online school has:

• Curriculum that’s current and aligned with your career goals
• Experienced faculty
• Proper accreditations
• Strong student support services

“Ultimately, the delivery method is not the most crucial,” Tanguay said. “It’s the quality of the higher education institution and the relevance and authenticity of the learning experience that matter the most.”

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette '18 '22G is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she fulfills her love of learning daily through conversations with professionals across a range of fields. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing at SNHU’s campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, and followed her love of storytelling into the online Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn.