Are Online Supply Chain Management Degrees Legit?

Online degrees have become more common over the last several years, including online supply chain management bachelor's degrees. These degrees teach students to manage all aspects of the supply chain.

Online degrees had a negative reputation for a while, but as online degrees have become more commonplace, many employers have changed their opinion in recent years. Online supply chain management degrees are legitimate and can help prepare graduates for careers in supply chain management just as well as an in-person degree can.

Do Employers Respect Online Supply Chain Management Degrees?

Over the last several years, views about online colleges and online degrees have shifted. Today, employers will generally respect online supply chain management degrees.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's and master's level online supply chain management degrees. However, not all online programs are the same, and it's important to do your research when choosing your program.

What To Look For in an Online Supply Chain Management Degree Program

If you want your supply chain management degree to be respected, there are a few things to look for, including:

• accreditation
• reputation
• nonprofit or for-profit status

These indicators can also give you a hint as to the quality of the program, as can the graduation rate. We've broken these all down below.

Accreditation

The college or university you choose needs to be accredited to be legitimate. At the institutional level, colleges, and universities can be regionally or nationally accredited.

Most schools are regionally accredited, and this type of accreditation is generally preferred. It indicates that the school has met strict accreditation standards for education.

National accreditation is usually used for for-profit schools and schools with very specific career focuses, like cosmetology schools. These often aren't as highly respected and credits from these institutions won't transfer into regionally accredited schools.

Reputation

The reputation of a school can give you an idea of how well-respected your degree will be. It can also indicate how strong the school's programs are.

You can learn more about a school's reputation by looking at school rankings, such as those released by Forbes and the U.S. World and News Report. You can also read reviews from alumni and current students.

Nonprofit Vs. For-Profit Degrees

In general, it's best to choose a college or university that is nonprofit. All public schools are nonprofit, but private schools can be nonprofit or for-profit.

For-profit schools often have a poor reputation because they're thought of as 'degree mills,' schools that value profit over education. While there are some decent for-profit schools, nonprofit schools are more likely to have a better reputation.

In addition to having a better reputation, nonprofit schools often provide more affordable online supply chain management degrees.

Graduation Rates

Graduation rate is the number of full-time, first-time students who complete their supply chain management associate degree within three years or their bachelor's degree within six years. It's used to determine how good a school's programs are.

While this can be a helpful metric, it's important to remember that it doesn't reflect graduate programs. It may also be misleading for schools that mainly enroll adult or returning students.

Differences Between Online Supply Chain Management Degrees and Traditional Supply Chain Management Degrees

In a traditional, in-person supply chain management degree program, students have a set course schedule. They attend courses on campus several times a week, where they listen to lectures, collaborate with other students, and receive and turn in coursework.

In most online courses, students do not have to report to class at a set time. They still have coursework with due dates but can complete this coursework at a time convenient to them throughout the week.

Benefits of Earning Your Supply Chain Management Degree at an Online School

The flexibility of an online supply chain management degree is the biggest benefit. As long as you complete your coursework before the due date, you can do your work at whatever time works best for your schedule.

Another benefit of online degree programs is that they allow you to learn from institutions that are nowhere near you. You can earn your degree from a school across the country without leaving your city.

Featured Online Supply Chain Management Degree Programs

Several reputable, accredited colleges and universities across the United States offer online degree programs in supply chain management. These programs prepare students for careers in supply chain management and logistics.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University is a public research university based in Tempe, Arizona. It offers many online degrees and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The following supply chain management degrees are offered online at ASU:

• Supply Chain Management - BS
• Supply Chain Management - MS

2. Ball State University

Ball State University is a public research university in Muncie, Indiana. It's regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers several online programs.

The following supply chain management degrees are offered online at BSU:

• Logistics and Supply Chain Management - BA or BS
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management - MBA

3. Bellevue University

Bellevue University is a private, nonprofit university in Bellevue, Nebraska. It offers a range of online programs and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The following supply chain management degrees are offered online at Bellevue:

• Supply Chain and Logistics Management - BS
• Supply Chain, Transportation, and Logistics Management - BS
• Supply Chain Management - MS

4. Oregon State University

Oregon State University is a public research university in Corvallis, Oregon. It's regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and offers a variety of online programs.

The following supply chain management degrees are offered online at OSU:

• Supply Chain and Logistics Management - BS
• Supply Chain and Logistics Management - MBA

5. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public university in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It's one of many members of the University of Wisconsin system and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The following supply chain management degrees are offered online at UW-Whitewater:

• Supply Chain Management - BBA
• Supply Chain Management - MBA