Reality of Online Degree Programmes: Myths vs. Facts

Reality of Online Degree Programmes: Myths vs. Facts

#MBA
Arushi PanditaUpdated on 21 Mar 2025, 10:12 AM IST

More than 65,000 students have enroled in online degree programmes in the last three years, as per data. Despite the growing popularity of online degrees, several myths still prevail. Although online learning has advanced considerably, these misconceptions often mislead students, making them hesitant to enrol in online degree programmes.

Reality of Online Degree Programmes: Myths vs. Facts
Reality of Online Degree Programmes

Online degree courses are two and three-year courses. These online programmes are designed to provide accessible, flexible, and career-oriented education to students. These courses range from management to humanities, enabling students to gain essential analytical and critical thinking skills.

Several UGC-approved online degrees from top universities provide students with quality management education, ensuring academic credibility. These programmes offer an interactive curriculum, placement support, and virtual student services. With live lectures, recorded sessions, and digital libraries, students gain flexible learning opportunities while developing practical skills essential for career advancement in today's competitive job market.

Myths vs. Facts About Online Degrees: What is True And False?

Online degrees are frequently misjudged, with doubts about their credibility, quality, and career prospects. However, several UGC-accredited online degree courses provide the same academic value as traditional degrees, exposing these misconceptions. The following points highlight the common myths and the corresponding facts to clarify the reality of online degree programmes:

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Myth: Online degrees are lower quality and more expensive

Fact: A common misconception about online degree courses is that they are expensive and lack quality. However, UGC-recognised programmes provide quality education at affordable prices, thus eliminating additional expenses such as travel and accommodation. Institutions such as Amity University Online and Jamia Hamdard Online offer credible education with budget-friendly fee structures, ensuring accessibility for students.

Myth: Employers prefer on-campus degrees

Fact: Employers once held reservations about online degrees, but this perception is shifting with the digitisation of education. Companies such as Deloitte and Accenture value online and traditional degrees equally. However, greater emphasis is placed on the skills acquired and the practical exposure students gain throughout the two-year online degree programme.

Myth: Online degrees lack interactions

Fact: Many believe that online degrees isolate students from meaningful interactions. However, UGC-approved institutions in India utilise technology to foster engagement. Virtual discussion forums, interactive assignments, and placement support enhance connectivity. Platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Slack enable students to collaborate effectively with faculty and peers, ensuring meaningful interactions in a virtual environment.

Myth: Online degree courses are easier than on-campus degrees

Fact: One common myth in online education is that online degree courses are easier than on-campus programmes. This is untrue, as UGC-approved online degrees in India follow the same academic curriculum as traditional courses. Students undergo structured evaluations through semester exams, projects, and practical case studies to assess their knowledge.

Myth: You have to be a tech expert to take online degrees

Fact: Since online degrees utilise a technology called learning management systems, students do not need to be technology experts while enroling in these online courses. Indian universities provide students with technical support and user-friendly platforms such as Google Classroom to simplify the learning process, making navigation easy for those with minimal technical expertise.

Myth: Online Degree Courses are not accredited

Fact: Accreditation is crucial for any degree’s credibility. The University Grants Commission, a statutory body in India, has approved several Indian institutions to offer recognised online degrees. Students while enroling in an online degree programme must visit the official website of the UGC and the institute to verify the authenticity and credibility of the online degree programmes.

Myth: Online Degrees lack course resources

Fact: This misconception overlooks the extensive digital resources offered in online degree programmes. Enroled students gain access to virtual libraries, recorded lectures, and industry reports. Programmes such as WILP also provide virtual labs and studios for online B.Tech and M.Tech courses, ensuring students have sufficient resources to succeed academically.

Myth: Online Degrees are inferior to traditional Degrees

Fact: Online degrees hold equal value to traditional degrees. They follow the same curriculum and study methods as on-campus programmes. However, the credibility of an online degree largely depends on the institution's reputation. Before enroling, it is crucial to assess the course structure and the university's placement record to make an informed decision.

Also Read: Go beyond blended learning - The Role of AI in Online Education

Online or Offline Learning: Which One Is More Effective In 2025?

By 2025, the landscape of online and offline learning has evolved significantly, with students increasingly opting for online programmes. In India, over 90 UGC-approved universities offer accredited online degrees. While online courses excel in flexibility and accessibility, offline education emphasises face-to-face interactions and immersive campus experiences. The table below compares both learning modes across key categories.

CategoriesOnline LearningOffline Learning

Quality

Online programmes offer high-quality education if offered by accredited institutions. Utilisation of digital tools and virtual interactive platforms helps students access value education.

Offline programmes are focused on structured classroom learning, ensuring face-to-face interactions.

Recognition

UGC-approved online degrees are equally recognised and accredited. However, professional industries also widely acknowledge and accept its recognition.

Traditional UGC-recognised degrees are widely accepted among both institutions and professional industries.

Outcomes

Online learning programmes when pursued by prestigious institutions such as top Indian b-schools, help students secure placements in top multinational organisations.

Offline learning from top institutions provides better practical exposure and higher salary packages, however, lesser-known institutions may offer limited opportunities and access.

Affordability

Online learning is more affordable than offline learning, due to the reduced travel and accommodation costs and material expenses.

Typically, more expensive than online learning, due to tuition fees, accommodation, and other expenses.

Exposure

With the integration of technology, Indian institutions providing online degrees provide global industry exposure to students along with access to several discussion forums and student support, thus strengthening their networking opportunities.

Offline learning offers more social opportunities for students to interact, collaborate, and network, through extracurriculars, campus events, and face-to-face learning.

Opportunities

Online learning provides students access to remote internships, and virtual career fairs, mentorship, and counselling sessions to help them make informed decisions about their careers.

Offline learning offers direct access to career fairs, alumni meetups, and face-to-face networking.

Evaluation

Assessments in online learning include continuous evaluation in the form of quizzes, assignments, and project submissions, and semester-based evaluation with an online protected system.

Evaluation includes written face-to-face examinations, practical assessments, and presentations conducted under strict supervision.


With online degree courses emerging as a credible option for students seeking affordability with convenience. They must ensure to visit the official website of the institution and verify the course quality, university reputation, and placement record so that students make informed decisions about their educational journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I pursue an online degree while working full-time?
A:

Yes, online degrees offer flexible schedules, allowing working professionals to balance career responsibilities with academic learning.

Q: Are online degrees recognised in India?
A:

Yes, UGC-approved online degrees are recognised in India, ensuring they hold equal academic value as traditional degrees when pursued from accredited institutions.

Q: Do employers accept online degrees?
A:

Many top companies, including Deloitte and Accenture, accept online degrees if earned from reputable universities, focusing on skills and practical knowledge.

Q: Are online degrees easier than traditional degrees?
A:

Online degrees follow the same academic curriculum as traditional programmes, with structured evaluations such as exams, projects, and case studies.

Q: Do online degrees offer placement support?
A:

Several universities provide dedicated placement support, career guidance, and internship opportunities to help online students connect with potential employers.

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Questions related to MBA

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Have a question related to MBA ?

Yes, with an 89 percentile in CAT, your daughter has a good chance of securing admission in several reputed MBA colleges in India, though top IIMs may be difficult unless she has strong academic diversity, category reservation, or exceptional profile factors. At this percentile range, many well-known Tier-2 and upper Tier-3 management institutes consider candidates for their flagship MBA/PGDM programs.

Institutes such as IMI New Delhi, IMT Hyderabad, XIMB HRM, GIM Goa (certain programs), FORE School of Management, LBSIM Delhi, TAPMI Manipal (borderline), IFMR GSB, Great Lakes (PGDM) and several reputed university MBA programs actively shortlist candidates around the 85–90 percentile range. Final selection does not depend on CAT score alone; academic background, work experience, diversity, performance in GD/PI/WAT also play a significant role.

To maximise chances, she should apply to a balanced mix of colleges, prepare well for interviews, and highlight strengths such as internships, certifications, leadership roles, or work experience. If her profile is average and she aims for higher-ranked institutes, she may also consider repeating CAT with focused preparation to push her percentile above 95.

With 71.52 percentile in CAT as an SC category candidate, getting admission to NIT Trichy (DOMS) for MBA is possible but not guaranteed. NIT Trichy generally has lower CAT cut-offs for reserved categories, and in recent years, the SC cut-off has ranged approximately between 65–75 percentile, depending on the applicant pool and seat availability. Since your score falls within this range, you may get shortlisted for the PI round, especially if you have decent academic consistency and meet the minimum eligibility criteria. However, final admission will depend on performance in the personal interview, academic background, and availability of SC category seats. You should definitely apply to NIT Trichy, but also keep options open by applying to other NITs like NIT Warangal, NIT Surathkal, NIT Calicut, and central universities, where your percentile gives you a better conversion probability. Preparing well for the interview can significantly improve your chances of securing a seat.

With an overall CAT percentile of around 80 and belonging to the NC-OBC category, you do have a fair set of MBA college options in India, including some IITs, though the top IIMs and older IIT MBA programs will be difficult at this score.

At the IITs, you can realistically consider the newer and mid-tier MBA programs. IIT Jodhpur (MBA), IIT Bhilai, IIT Jammu, and IIT Dharwad are among the IITs where candidates with 75–85 percentile in CAT and category reservation like NC-OBC have received calls in previous admission cycles. These institutes generally place more weight on CAT score combined with academic background, work experience, and performance in the personal interview. However, IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur, and Roorkee usually require much higher percentiles, even for reserved categories, so chances there are quite low at 80 percentile.

Apart from IITs, several good government and semi-government MBA institutes are strong options at your percentile. You should definitely consider colleges like NIT Trichy (DOMS), NIT Warangal (SOM), NIT Calicut (SOM), and NIT Durgapur, as NITs often have slightly lower CAT cutoffs for NC-OBC candidates compared to IIMs. Universities such as Jamia Millia Islamia (MBA), Aligarh Muslim University, University of Hyderabad, and Delhi School of Management (DTU) can also be explored, depending on sectional cutoffs and your academic profile.

In the private institute space, there are many reputed B-schools where 80 percentile with NC-OBC reservation gives you a reasonable chance. These include IMT Nagpur and Hyderabad, GIM Goa (for some programs), TAPMI Manipal, FORE School of Management, K J Somaiya (Mumbai), BIMTECH Greater Noida, IRMA Anand (depending on profile), and IFMR GSB Krea University. These colleges focus strongly on interviews, SOPs, and overall profile, so good communication skills and clarity of goals can significantly improve your chances.

Overall, your strategy should be to apply broadly. Prioritise newer IITs and NITs first, then reputed private B-schools with consistent placement records. Make sure you prepare well for the personal interview and group discussion rounds, as at this percentile, final selection depends heavily on how well you perform beyond CAT.

https://bschool.careers360.com/cat-college-predictor

Hello,

Both Bengal Institute of Business Studies (BIBS) and United World School of Business (UWSB) have strong placement records in Kolkata. with specific data suggesting BIBS has a slightly higher potential higher salary package. While the UWSB provides a higher placement rate.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello

With an NMAT score of 205, you have decent chances in good mid-tier MBA colleges.
You may get calls from NMIMS Hyderabad or Indore, but the Mumbai core is usually slightly higher.
Colleges like SDA Bocconi Asia Centre, BML Munjal, and IBS Hyderabad are realistic options.
Some reputed private B-schools may also consider you if sectional cutoffs are clear. Overall, 205 is a fair score that can lead to a solid MBA college with good planning.

You can refer to the link I am attaching for more details: CLICK HERE