Do employers take open university degrees seriously?

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Do employers take open university degrees seriously?
Discover how your open university degree is valued in the job market and learn if employers consider it as credible as traditional college degrees.

If you are considering a degree from the Open University, the credibility question is fair. The short answer is that employers take accredited distance-learning degrees seriously, and the Open University in particular is a well-established institution. It is the largest university in the UK by student numbers, with a long track record of adult and part-time education.

What employers actually evaluate is the accreditation and reputation of the institution, not the delivery format. Surveys of employer attitudes support this: an Excelsior College and Zogby Analytics survey from 2023 found that 83 percent of business leaders rate online degrees from well-known universities as equally valuable as on-campus degrees. A Graduate Management Admission Council survey found 54 percent of US employers regard online and in-person management degrees as equally valuable.

Open University study also builds traits employers notice. Distance learning demands self-discipline, time management, and the ability to work without close supervision. Those are the same qualities remote and hybrid workplaces depend on, so graduates can speak to them directly in interviews.

That said, no degree impresses on its own. Employers still look at your skills, experience, and how you present them. Build a portfolio of practical work, seek internships or volunteer roles, and be ready to explain what your program taught you beyond the syllabus.

Before enrolling anywhere, confirm the institution’s accreditation status and check how its graduates fare in your target field. For background, read whether online master’s degrees are credible, what to know about accredited online degrees, and how accredited online degrees open opportunities. You can also explore the range of online degree programs to compare formats.

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