Are Online Doctoral Program Graduates Viewed as Hireable for Academic Positions? The Case of Public Affairs Programs

Abstract This article compares the hireability of doctoral graduates of online and traditional public affairs programs in the United States. In this context, “hireability” refers to the measure of how likely it is that someone may be hired. There has been an expansion in the number of awarded doctoral degrees, particularly through online degree programs, yet there has not been a commensurate expansion in the number of academic positions. This is especially true in applied fields such as public administration in which online, for-profit institutions are producing 36.2% of doctoral degrees. Furthermore, COVID distancing measures have forced degree programs to shift to mediated instruction, magnifying the importance of comparing program outcomes. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding perceptions of hireability of doctoral program graduates despite the importance for accountability in the higher education marketplace. For this study, we surveyed faculty search committee chairs, program directors, and others involved in hiring for public affairs faculty positions in the U.S. Results indicate substantial differences between the perceived hireability of candidates from online doctoral programs compared to traditional ones. Furthermore, a review of dissertation data shows a stark contrast by type of institution in the subjects researched within the same degree awarded.