As an educator, I believe for an absolute fact that there is no way to replicate the classroom experience, at least not with today's technology. The in-person experience is a far superior education. It can of course be complemented by some online component but if that's the primary thing I just don't believe the students learn as much. Obviously a fantastic online professor could do better than a horrible in-person professor, but assuming apples to apples online is nowhere near as good. Taking a college course in person is an experience that enriches you. Taking it online is just a series of assignments.

Jumping in here, I'm considering Drexel University. The have a campus but also offer online programs with the same curriculum and same instructors as on-campus.

I believe UMUC is not for profit

I think the distinction is for profit/non profit. Historically the for profits exploited distance learning first. I took an online class (granted it was Internet software dev) as part of my full time research MS at VT. Duke has a distance MBA now. Online is somewhat loosing its stigma but I would still stick to the non profit schools and not advertise you are doing distance learning.

Why they're not respected?

Some brands are deemed more valuable than others (Harvard over Strayer). But why does it matter really? Education seems like it's becoming more of a commodity. The brands are meaningless when it is not based on merit and intelligence. And grades meaningless with grade inflation.

UMUC does NOT count as an online college degree. This is not what people (DCUM's) are referring to here online. They are referring to schools such as Strayer, Everest, etc.....

Anonymous wrote:Is UMUC considered an "online school"??

It's the University of Maryland University College.

Maybe not, but my program is one of their online programs

Because they are not respected by employers.

I'm an elementary school principal and have received over a hundred resumes in the last few weeks. The online degree resumes go to the circular file.

If we are telling you they are crap and we consider them a joke - why would you pay (because online is not an investment) so much money?
Also us brick and motor folks think you are lazy. I had plenty of friends in college and law school who were parents (some single), worked, and attended school.

Is UMUC considered an "online school"??

It's the University of Maryland University College.

I don't think they are, but it does depend a little on your degree. For example - I wouldn't get a science related degree online.

I am doing a certificate program currently completely online that will then get me certified through my professional organization. I do reading assignments then take tests and quizzes online. There are 2 tests I have to take in person somewhere, and the only place I found in the area that would proctor the exams in person was NOVA.

I know my friend's husband got his master's degree online, too - he was military and it was a school in michigan. UMUC is actually pretty well known - I see no issue with this.

Because there's no way for an employer to tell that you actually learned anything.

Because many of the programs are really crappy, so you actually don't learn anything.

I'm a SAHM to 2 young kids so an online program works best for me. I'm about to transfer my community college credits over to UMUC. I checked and it is a credited school. I'm about to invest a lot of money in going to school there - will it be for nothing?