Do Employers Dislike Online Degrees? Honest Answers for Job Seekers

Online degrees used to get a lot of side-eye from hiring managers. People worried they didn’t stack up to on-campus programs, or even wondered if they were legit. Fast forward to 2025, and more than one in three recent grads from the U.S. picked up at least some of their education online. So, is the old stigma really gone?

Here’s what matters: not all online degrees are the same, and employers know it. They care about the school’s reputation and if the degree is from an accredited program. If it’s a well-known university or college, they’re probably not losing sleep over the fact you took classes from your laptop instead of a lecture hall.

If you have an online degree, your next step shouldn’t be worrying whether employers “hate” it. Instead, focus on showing the skills and grit you picked up while juggling remote classes. Those time management chops and tech skills? Hiring managers love them—and you can (and should) work them into your resume and interviews from the start.

• Online Degrees: Are They Still a Red Flag?
• What Recruiters Actually Notice
• The Top Concerns (and Realities)
• Online Graduates: Success Stories & Tough Spots
• How to Present Your Online Degree
• Practical Tips to Boost Your Job Chances

Online Degrees: Are They Still a Red Flag?

Not too long ago, saying you had an online degree could raise some eyebrows in a job interview. Employers worried these programs were less challenging or, worse, connected to diploma mills. But a lot has changed, especially since 2020 when the pandemic pushed even brick-and-mortar universities to offer classes online.

Big names like MIT, Harvard, and Arizona State now have large online programs, and companies know it. It's not just for-profit schools anymore. In fact, a study published in April 2024 by the National Center for Education Statistics found that about 38% of U.S. bachelor's degrees in 2023 included over half the credits from online courses.

Still, not every employer is totally on board. Some older managers might privately worry an online degree means less hands-on experience or weaker teamwork skills. But most hiring trends show that what matters most isn’t how you learned, it’s what you learned and if you can do the job.

Employers are getting more familiar with online degrees every year. Hiring managers from companies like Google and Dell said in a recent LinkedIn poll that they're more focused on candidates’ skills, projects, and online degrees from trusted schools than where or how they attended classes.

If you’re stressing over whether your online degree looks bad, here’s the truth: most companies just care that you’ve got the right training and attitude. The only real red flags are degrees from unaccredited schools or programs with a sketchy reputation. So, as long as your program has legit accreditation and you can prove your skills, you’re in good shape.

What Recruiters Actually Notice

You might think that recruiters have a laser focus on where you got your degree, but it’s actually the full package that matters. When applications come in, recruiters always check if your degree lines up with the job requirements and if your school is accredited. Here's the thing: they're more interested in whether you can do the job than if you learned online or in a classroom.

According to a recent National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, over 70% of employers now consider online degrees from accredited schools just as credible as traditional ones. A few years ago, that number was under 50%. The rapid shift largely shows how fast digital learning has grown and how employers have gotten used to seeing online credentials on resumes.

Want to know what usually gets missed? Whether your diploma says "online." Most diplomas and transcripts from big universities don’t mention how you took your classes. Recruiters also admit they pay more attention to job experience, hands-on projects, and how you solve problems during interviews.

If you’re looking to stand out, highlight not just your online degrees, but also the real skills you gained. Add group projects, internships, and certificates to your resume. The more specific you are, the easier it is for recruiters to connect the dots between your education and what they need in a hire.

• List hands-on projects under your education or experience sections.
• Mention any industry certifications, especially if earned online.
• Practically show you can work independently and manage deadlines.

No one’s keeping a list of who studied online and who didn’t. Recruiters mostly want to see proof you can do the job and fit on their team.

The Top Concerns (and Realities)

Let’s get real about what makes employers hesitate with online degrees. The biggest worry is quality. Some online programs pop up overnight and hand out diplomas with barely any effort required. Employers know this, and they’re watching out for degrees that come from random, unaccredited schools. If your online degree is from a college no one’s heard of, that could raise a red flag.

Another concern is that online courses might be “easier.” There’s a myth that students just click through slides and magically pass. Of course, this isn’t the case with legit programs, especially those tied to respected universities. Research from Northeastern University in 2023 found 61% of employers now believe online education is as good as or better than traditional education—if it comes from a well-known institution.

Employers also worry about social skills and teamwork. Some think students in online degrees miss out on those group projects and in-person debates where real workplace skills get built. But this is changing too, since most online programs now require discussion boards, video presentations, and real collaboration—just virtually.

So what really matters? It comes down to:

• Accreditation: Is the school recognized and approved? That’s non-negotiable for most employers.
• School reputation: Big-name universities or long-standing colleges give your degree more weight.
• Your specific major: Some fields, like tech and marketing, are fine with online degrees. Others, like clinical health roles, may want on-campus experience.

Bottom line? The old blanket skepticism is fading. Employers are adjusting to the times, but you have to be ready to show you earned your degree through solid work, not shortcuts.

Online Graduates: Success Stories & Tough Spots

If you’re wondering how people with online degrees actually do in the job market, the stories are mixed—but often much better than most would guess. There are plenty of grads landing good roles at big companies, as long as their programs are real and respected.

Take Sarah M., who earned a business degree from Arizona State University Online and now works for a Fortune 500 company. She said in a recent LinkedIn post, "My hiring manager cared more about my internship experience than how I got my degree. The fact that I finished a full load while working part time only impressed her."

But it’s not always smooth sailing. Some grads from lesser-known online schools still find themselves explaining the basics. Employers may double-check if the institution is accredited, or even ask about how coursework was structured. If you’re from a school lots of hiring managers haven’t heard of, expect more questions. Recruiters recently surveyed by Inside Higher Ed in 2024 said about 23% are cautious about degrees from schools they don’t recognize.

Here’s a tip—if you got your degree online from a brick-and-mortar university, it usually doesn’t even show up on the diploma or transcript. Most hiring managers can’t tell the difference unless you bring it up or studied at an online-only university.

"Online education has lost most of its stigma in the eyes of major employers. What's important to us is what the graduate can actually do, not just how they learned it." – Liz Lee, HR Director at a top tech firm (quoted in The Washington Post, March 2025)

Bottom line: Most reputable online programs open doors, not close them. But if your school name is a mystery or the quality is questionable, be ready to show off your skills, projects, and relevant experience. That gives you an edge no matter where your degree comes from.

How to Present Your Online Degree

Don’t try to hide your online degree—own it. These days, hiring managers are less interested in where you sat and more interested in what you learned and how you can prove it. Here’s how to put your best foot forward when you list your degree on a resume or mention it in an interview.

• Be clear and confident—List your school as you would any other. For example, if you graduated from Arizona State University Online, write ‘Arizona State University’ and then add ‘Online’ if you want, but don’t bury the fact. Most big-name schools now offer online degrees, so employers see this all the time.
• Highlight skills—Emphasize the practical skills you gained, especially tech and time management. Being able to keep up with remote coursework while working or managing family can really stand out.
• Back it up with results—Drop examples, like group projects, internships, or certifications. If you led a remote team during a capstone project, mention it. That’s something a lot of in-person programs don’t offer.
• Link to work—Add a portfolio link, GitHub, or project site if possible. Online programs often require more digital work and presentations, so use that to your advantage.

Most importantly, make it clear your degree came from a legit, accredited program. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 68% of U.S. colleges offer online degrees, and employers are getting used to this being the norm.

Don’t hesitate to talk about why online learning worked for you. Maybe you balanced work and study, or you needed the flexibility. That shows real-world problem-solving. And don’t forget—more recruiters are earning their own online degrees these days. You’re not the outlier anymore.

Practical Tips to Boost Your Job Chances

If you’ve finished your studies through an online program, you’ve already shown that you can handle self-discipline and tech tools. Now it’s time to make sure those strengths pay off in the job market. Here’s how you can really stand out—even if some folks still wonder about online degrees.

• Show off your skills, not just your degree. In your resume, list out specific projects, software, and skills you picked up during your online courses. Hiring managers want to see what you can do, not just where you studied.
• Get internships, even remote ones. Real work experience paired with an online degree helps erase doubts. Sites like LinkedIn and Indeed often post remote internships suited for online students.
• Network, network, network. Join industry groups, attend virtual events, and connect with alumni from your program. Research from NACE shows that referred applicants get hired up to 4x more often than general applicants.
• Keep your LinkedIn up to date. Include your online coursework, certifications, and projects. LinkedIn’s 2024 report said 94% of hiring managers use the platform to vet candidates.
• Prep for interviews by practicing how you explain your online learning experience. Be specific about how you managed your time, overcame challenges, or balanced work with school.
• If your program came from a well-known or traditional school, mention the university name (not “Online” or “Distance”). Most employers focus on the institution, not the delivery method.

You should also know how online degree holders are doing in the real world. Check out this quick data table based on a 2023 Glassdoor survey:

Sure, there’s a tiny gap, but it’s shrinking every year as more companies hire remote workers and see the value of online learning. Finally, keep growing—keep up with certifications, micro-courses, or soft skills. The job market’s hungry for people who never stop learning.