Caution: Will An Online Degree Help you Get Dream Job?

By Eve Tahmincioglu
Some online schools are offering desperate jobs seekers the world. But don’t sign up before you do your homework.
Promises you’ll end up in your dream job or make big bucks once you graduate, may end up to be empty, warned Allison Linn, TODAY.com’s senior reporter who has covered how degrees impact employability. She was on hand to answer readers’ questions about the topic during our live web chat Wednesday.

MaryKay wrote:For the states that still have these available, our members should participate. Check with you State website, not through the UC Service Centers. The UC service center monies dried up 2 years ago and were not as thorough as others. In PA, DE and NJ, there is no funding at all for the programs mentioned above through the State. The new budgets completely cut the funding for them last term. If you live somewhere that still has funds available, go for it. They don't heavily advertise it and it's up to the individual to "find" it.

Also, even the States do advertise and utilize the for profit higher learning agencies such as Lincoln Tech, GCIT etc. They are not fully accredited, promise jobs and may leave you with a certification that is not acceptable for all employers. Some will give you the opportunity to build on your certifications and continue taking courses, but not all. You will be given the opportunity to remain on their lists to help secure employment, but there are not guarantees you will get a job through them. As stated above, do your homework. There are enough people scamming the systems to take advantage of the really desperate unemployed, read all the fine print, make sure the courses you take are accredited and make sure they have a list of employers who have agreed to give first consideration to the graduates of their programs.