When Matt Tharp researched online MBA programs, employment prospects were a priority.
He eventually selected the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University–Bloomington — not just because of its robust career services, he says, but also for its strong reputation with employers.
“Employers already showed up routinely to recruit full-time students, and the ability to leverage that was one place that was of value,” says the 28-year-old Illinois resident, who recently accepted a consulting job offer and expects to graduate this year.
Whether prospective students seek a career change or plan to stay in their current field, experts say assessing an online degree program’s employer partnerships can be beneficial — especially as career aspirations remain the primary reason students pursue a degree online, according to a 2016 survey from the Learning House and Aslanian Market Research.
Through partnerships, a company might, for example, host virtual networking and recruiting events for online students. In turn, the university might offer discounted tuition, job-focused course material and a simplified application process to the company’s employees.
Sometimes, experts say, employers even provide input on the curriculum to ensure the program meets career needs — especially in online, competency-based programs, which focus on developing concrete job-specific skills.
[Discover four considerations about competency-based learning for online students.]
Today’s employers more frequently partner with online degree programs than in the past as respectable schools launch online options, says Ramesh Venkataraman, chairman of the online MBA and business master’s programs at Kelley.
“More and more of the companies are realizing that there’s a talent pool that they have not always tapped,” Venkataraman says. “Since competition for talent is always so tough, especially top talent, some more forward-looking companies are actually realizing that this is actually a competitive advantage for them.”
“When we get to start working with an employer, we’ll find out what their core needs are,” says Jennifer Lasater, vice president of employer and career services at the for-profit Kaplan University, which delivers many degrees online. “Obviously when they’re coming to us, a lot of times they’re looking to hire, but there could be additional benefits, like posting jobs for students, having online information sessions with us.”
These partnerships are common at the for-profit Strayer University, which grants online degrees and where several thousand students enroll with reduced or covered tuition from employers across multiple industries, says Karl McDonnell, chief executive officer at Strayer Education, Inc.
[Learn how to persuade an employer to pay for an online degree.]
Assessing a program’s employer partnerships not only benefits online students planning to switch careers entirely, but also those want to stay where they are for the time being, experts say.
“You may be very happy with your employer right now,” says Corinne Snell, assistant dean for student professional development at the Temple University Fox School of Business, which has an online MBA program. “But perhaps down the road you might want to consider different growth opportunities.”
Laurie Ryan, a bachelor’s student at Drexel University Online, received a substantial tuition discount when she enrolled — both for herself and her daughter, who’s also a student. That’s because Beebe Healthcare, where she works as an employee health and benefits assistant, has a partnership with Drexel.
“As you can imagine, working full time, trying to pay your bills, trying to put your kid through school — 40 percent knocked off of your tuition right off the top is just huge for us,” Ryan says.
There are a few ways prospective online students can research employer partnerships. Those who are already working can consult human resources at their company to find out about employer relationships, says Susan Aldridge, president of Drexel University Online, which partners with about 1,000 employers.
Those aiming to switch career fields or companies can also reach out to potential online programs and ask about the school’s relationships with different types of organizations and where alumni work, Aldridge says. Experts say many programs will list their employer partnerships online, and many companies list academic partnerships.
Beyond that, prospective online students should research the online faculty to understand possible networking connections, says Glenn Williamson, faculty director of the master’s in real estate program, which is offered online, at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.
[Ask these questions to assess faculty in online programs.]
“That gives them a sense of what kind of insight they might be able to pick up through the program,” he says, “and how the insights could help them through their future networking as well.”
But Shannon Gallo, manager of career services at the CUNY School for Professional Studies, which offers online degrees, says evaluating a program’s career and professional development services in general and their availability to online students is more essential than researching specific relationships.
“I think it’s more important for a student to look at how they would be supported in their own job search efforts, whatever they may be,” she says.
Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.
More from U.S. News
Online MBA Programs May Offer Easier Admissions Path
4 Questions Employers Ask About Job Applicants With Online Degrees
Avoid 4 Mistakes When Asking an Employer to Pay for an Online Degree
Consider Employer Connections in Online Degree Programs originally appeared on usnews.com
