<p>A friend of mine prefers an online school in a web programming or design degree so she continue working full-time. Do you think that this path is always a bad idea? The state school in our area doesn't offer that degree, and the community college doesn't have all the classes online. </p>
<p>Schools like University of Phoenix not worth the money at all?</p>
<p>I think they might be worth the money in very limited circumstances. I’m not sure this one qualifies. I would look at what was available at the local CC and see how the program could be tailored.</p>
<p>One of the big problems is that EMPLOYERS may not value the U. Have had a frank discussion with several employers in our town they the specifically state that they DO NOT value education from FOR PROFIT U, which they feel is a “diploma mill” or where you insert $$$$ & get a degree with little to show for it. </p>
<p>Our S took a statistics course from such a U in the summer after 10th grade & found it EASIER than his 6th grade math class (he won a scholarship so he only had to buy the textbook for the course & didn’t have to pay course fee or tuition). He was disgusted–he was the only one who showed up with the textbook on 1st day or course so it ended after only 15 minutes so the others could go & buy the book! It was supposed to run 2 hours! He said very little of the textbook was covered so he ended up reading it after the course ended.</p>
<p>“prefers an online school in a web programming or design degree”</p>
<p>There are probably good not-for-profit options. If the course is online, it doesn’t have to be at a state school “in your area.” I know someone who’s doing an online master’s degree in computer science at a major public university 3 hours away. Look into what <em>all</em> the public schools in the state offer before you conclude that for-profit is the only option.</p>
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<p>What does she plan to do with these online degrees? I’m not sure there’s much of a market for web programming, for example. There are some high level people hired by large companies, but usually these people have computer science degrees from recognized programs, along with experience, etc…</p>
<p>Most of the remaining web programming jobs are essentially freelance, pay very little, and are increasingly done offshore. To break into this field, experience and entrepreneurial skills matter. I would guess that a degree from an online for-profit will not help, at all. To some extent, these programs are scams. It’s very easy and cheap to set up an online school, especially if they’re not going for accreditation, or industry support. Caveat emptor.</p>
<p>Western Governors’ University, a non-profit on-line university, offers a course in web programming, which is part of one of its IT degree programs.</p>