Is an Online Degree Worth It?

Yes, an online degree can be useful, but it’s going to depend on the school, the degree, and your reasons for obtaining it. Employer acceptance for most reputable universities’ accredited programs has increased greatly, and the expenses are significant compared to the traditional system of learning. So, it’s not a question of whether an online degree is legitimate; it’s which one.

Key takeaways

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• About 25% of all US college students – nearly 5 million – are enrolled in 100% online programs.
• Employers are becoming more accepting of online degrees from reputable schools and institutions.
• 90.4% of employers surveyed by NACE have employed graduates with online degrees (2024)
• Online bachelor’s degrees are on average priced about 64% less than an on-campus bachelor’s degree
• The greatest cost savings are the savings on room and board and transportation, not only tuition.
• Accreditation is still the number one criterion for assessing any online program

According to a recent Pew Research Report, the Millennials come into the world as the most educated generation in the U.S. ever. Bachelor’s degrees accounted for over a third of Millennials, but only one-fourth of their parents. 

Those education expenses have increased significantly. In 1979, the estimated cost of a graduate’s degree (including room & board) was less than $10,000 in 2012 dollars. The average annual cost of college in the U.S. today is about $38,270, and nationwide, a total of $1.814 trillion is owed on student loans. When you already have a student loan, it’s wise to be aware of student loan forgiveness options that could benefit you.

To try and lower costs for higher education, colleges, universities, and even for-profit institutions have started using technology. This enables them to provide classes, bachelor’s, and even master’s degrees in which some or all the work can be done online. Online enrollment is now about 25% of all college students in the United States, which, as of 2024, has increased to a stable level, proving that online education is no temporary bandage but a part of the higher education structure.

Are Online Degrees Credible?

One of the first questions people ask is how much the online courses are as legitimate as the classroom courses. In 2026, the short answer is: more and more yes – with caveats.

Older studies from 2013 found significant employer skepticism. That picture has changed considerably. The 2024 NACE Job Outlook Survey found that among employers who track degree modality, 87.4% had hired graduates with online degrees – and 100% of those employers reported paying new hires with an online degree the same salary as those with in-person credentials.

The 2025 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey shows a more nuanced picture: globally, acceptance of online degrees is high, particularly in Europe and Asia. In the US, employers remain somewhat more cautious – only 28% agreed that online and in-person degrees are equally credible in that survey. However, this figure is improving year over year, and the technology sector in particular has shown strong acceptance of online credentials.

What they all have in common is that accreditation and institutional reputation are more important than the method of delivery. A degree from a reputable and properly accredited institution is considered the same, whether it’s acquired online or in-person. Any degree, no matter how it’s been delivered, from an unknown school with weak accreditation will raise red flags.

Does an Online Degree Cost Less?

There are many draws to getting an online degree: some adults work full-time to support families, others have parental duties that do not allow them to schedule classes, and more and more students are not located in an area where a classroom is easily accessible. Finally, there are those who simply can’t afford a brick-and-mortar institution.

The cost picture has become clearer in recent years. According to the Education Data Initiative’s 2025–26 data, an online bachelor’s degree costs on average 64.3% of the equivalent on-campus degree. At private colleges, the gap is even larger – online programs average $519 per credit hour compared to $1,770 per credit at private nonprofit institutions on-campus, roughly one-third the price.

At public institutions, tuition is more comparable between online and in-person students. The average cost per credit hour for online classes at public colleges for in-state students was $337 for the 2024–2025 academic year – essentially the same as on-campus. At those institutions, the real savings come not from tuition but from the elimination of room, board, transportation, and campus fees – costs that can add tens of thousands of dollars to a traditional student’s total.

Because of the planning required to develop and maintain an online course, some universities do charge higher tuition for their online courses. Online students also need to factor in a computer, software, and internet access. But overall, the Education Data Initiative estimates online degrees are $31,165 cheaper than traditional in-person degrees when all costs are accounted for.

If your employer pays back your tuition, some schools will allow you to wait until the course is finished before paying the tuition, thus alleviating cash flow issues. This applies to both online and face-to-face courses.

It’s easier to track your education expenses with a budget, and our college budgeting guide provides some helpful tips.

The Accreditation Warning – Still Critical

When searching for education, there are precautions to take. As online learning has become the norm, there are numerous diploma mills that do not have accreditation and will award a degree to anyone willing to pay a fee. Accreditation from an independent, public, and third-party accrediting body assures that academic minimums are being fulfilled before the award of a degree or certificate.

This has not stopped a number of for-profit, unaccredited online schools from misleading students into obtaining government loans to pay for their education, then leaving them with near-worthless certificates of completion. The Department of Education maintains a database of accredited institutions – always verify before enrolling.

The best advice when searching for any educational institution, online or traditional, is to avoid unaccredited institutions or institutions with accreditation from unknown or unrecognized agencies.

Which Fields Accept Online Degrees Most Readily?

Not all fields embrace employer acceptance equally. According to recent data, online degrees are most widely accepted in the following domains:

• Technology and IT – strong acceptance, especially for technical skills-based jobs;
• Healthcare and nursing – acceptance is strong and growing; more than 70% of healthcare employers now accept online nursing credentials earned from accredited institutions, according to recent studies;
• Business and management – widely accepted, especially from accredited business schools;
• Education – for many jobs accepted, but in some cases, state licensing requirements still prefer traditional programs.

Law, medicine, and some academic research positions are fields where traditional degrees continue to have a heavier weight.

Is an Online Degree Worth It in 2026?

Although views are transforming, some employers – particularly in the United States – still slightly prefer traditional college degrees. But full-time classroom attendance is not practical for everyone. If having a degree is important to your career, it is worthwhile to look at an accredited online option.

The calculus has changed since that question was first seriously debated. Online enrollment is mainstream. Employer acceptance is growing. A very substantial cost advantage – and supported by extensive data. The danger is not from online learning itself – it is from choosing the wrong programme.

So if you are thinking about getting an online degree, then choose a regional or national accreditor for your institution, look to see what the graduation and employment rates are like at that institution, and lastly, make sure the credential is recognized by your target employers in your field. An online degree can match traditional outcomes but at a fraction of the cost and with much increased flexibility (if done correctly).