The Value of Online Credentials: Perceptions from Hiring Leaders

There has been a significant shift in the perception of online education over the past decade, according to a new survey from University of Phoenix.

Today, nearly all leaders (98%) see online degrees as more credible in the workplace compared to 10 years ago. As the result of employees having online education credentials, leaders have seen changes in their workplace that include:

• Increased productivity (63%).

• Employees being able to pick up skills more quickly to respond to changes in the job market (62%).

• More qualified candidates (60%).

• Improved morale among employees (55%).

• More upward mobility for employees (52%).

Changing Landscape

The evolving business landscape has also become more open to online learning in the wake of a shift to online and remote work. Leaders cite workers being more familiar/comfortable with the concept of learning online (60%) and employers being more comfortable with online and hybrid learning environments (60%) as reasons online degrees are seen as more credible now than a decade ago.

Workers with online education experience can also demonstrate their digital skills. Top advantages leaders see in employees with online education over traditional education include stronger digital collaboration skills (68%), greater adaptability and responsiveness (66%), and familiarity with emerging tools and tech (64%).

Top reasons job candidates with online credentials can stand out include flexibility to communicate and collaborate in hybrid workplaces (63%), willingness to continue professional development (60%), and more familiarity with online collaboration tools (59%). This is followed by flexibility and openness (58%), more up to date or relevant skillsets (57%), diversity of experience and skills (53%), and agility and responsiveness (49%).

Additionally, workers with online credentials bring real skills to the workplace. Top reasons that employees with online education credentials stand out to leaders include possessing new and emerging skillsets (78%), recent or specialized skillsets (69%), and technical or hard skills (65%). These are followed by durable or soft skills (57%).

Filling the Gap

While leaders want to make the most of employees’ online education, many are seeing gaps in their ability to do so. Around half of leaders do not think their organization is equipped to evaluate the skills of employees with online educational credentials (50%) or that they have the tools it needs to maximize the potential of employees with online educational credentials (53%).

But leaders who are equipped to maximize the potential of employees with online education credentials, 66% have seen more qualified candidates as the result of employees having online education credentials. In addition, 61% have seen increased morale in the workplace as the result of employees having online education credentials.

Looking Ahead

Over the next 10 years, 85% of leaders believe their industries will be more likely to consider candidates with online education credentials, including nearly 2 in 5 leaders (39%) who foresee their industries being much more likely to consider these candidates. Another 11% say their industry is just as likely to consider candidates with online education credentials. Only 4% anticipate less consideration of these candidates. Key reasons businesses expect to offer more tuition assistance over the next five years include improving skillsets among employees (77%), attracting new employees (64%), improving business outcomes (63%), retaining current employees (59%), and improving the cost effectiveness of these benefits (59%).

As the workplace has continued to evolve, so have the online credentials that are becoming not only more accepted but preferred by leadership, given their alignment with contemporary workplace demands. This trend is likely to persist, with organizations increasingly recognizing and leveraging the unique skills and flexibility that online-educated candidates bring to the table. Consequently, an investment in online education and related support mechanisms like tuition assistance programs appears to be a strategic move for future-oriented organizations aiming to thrive in rapidly changing economic and technological environments.

---

About University of Phoenix: University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs. The University of Phoenix Career Institute is housed within the university's College of Doctoral Studies and conducts impactful research to explore broad and persistent barriers to career growth. Through the Career Optimism Index® annual studies and targeted reports, the Institute shares actionable insights to inform solutions. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu/career-institute.