The poster below is correct, the credential is valued more than knowledge and this is what is holding people back.
Why do most elite schools refuse to bestow online degrees for anyone who can complete identical coursework with rigorous test proctoring?
It's not about cost. Forget about the lower marginal cost of online students, in most cases elite online degrees are not even allowed if students are willing to pay full price.
There is also the argument that the experience of being on campus and closely working with peers and instructors is an integral part of the credential. Yet that can't be the reason either or else a simple solution would be to offer "on campus" and "online" versions of a degree to clarify what has been achieved.
The biggest reason not to offer online elite degrees for all who can complete the work is to maintain prestige for the institution. Artificial scarcity is used against students the same way it is used by luxury brands such as Ferrari and Hermes hand bags.
Any why should this change? No one at these institutions would benefit including alumni who have already made it into the club.
It's prioritization of brand above the betterment of society through education.
Why do most elite schools refuse to bestow online degrees for anyone who can complete identical coursework with rigorous test proctoring?
It's not about cost. Forget about the lower marginal cost of online students, in most cases elite online degrees are not even allowed if students are willing to pay full price.
There is also the argument that the experience of being on campus and closely working with peers and instructors is an integral part of the credential. Yet that can't be the reason either or else a simple solution would be to offer "on campus" and "online" versions of a degree to clarify what has been achieved.
The biggest reason not to offer online elite degrees for all who can complete the work is to maintain prestige for the institution. Artificial scarcity is used against students the same way it is used by luxury brands such as Ferrari and Hermes hand bags.
Any why should this change? No one at these institutions would benefit including alumni who have already made it into the club.
It's prioritization of brand above the betterment of society through education.