Are life experience degrees impressive to employers?

Dear Deb:

I only completed one year of college due to lack of funding.  Also, I was successful in my part-time sales position and ultimately, that became a career which has provided an excellent income.  Now, I feel deficient because I don’t have a degree.  I have researched the possibility of getting a life experience degree.  One online university said I could quality for a Master’s degree based on my 14 years of experience in management.

What do people think of those degrees?   In particular: hiring employers, investors, and business colleagues?

Give me your honest advice. This degree is going to cost me about $35,000 and I want to be sure. Maybe I should invest that money in actual courses toward an academically-earned degree.

Thanks!

Rob

Dear Rob:

First, assess your goal for the degree.  Common reasons for earning degrees include:  career advancement, personal enrichment, and the experience of learning.  If your goal is personal enrichment or a great learning experience, you won’t achieve that through the life experience degree.  

If you are seeking to advance your career, it is possible for a degree like this to advance your career. Research the program carefully.  Be sure it is not a “degree mill.”  A sign that it may be a degree mill is that the institution is not accredited. Another sign that the school is not reputable is if you are not required to complete any work other than completing paperwork to explain your life experience. Those types of degrees will not be as respected in the marketplace and may harm your reputation. 

On the other hand, there are reputable institutions. These institutions may give you partial credit for coursework from 14 years ago and also give you some credit for your management experience.  The difference is you may get credit for a course or two for your work experience versus being granted a degree.

I don’t have enough information to give you a “yes” or “no” answer. However, contact me if you would like to arrange a coaching call.  We can talk in more detail and I can help you analyze the situation.

All the best,

Deb