Look for colleges offering online classes, rather than "online colleges." Many reputable colleges and universities now offer online classes for students who need the flexibility of distance learning. The other option is online colleges and universities that have been created primarily for the purpose of providing distance learning. These schools typically do not have the same reputation or credibility as established institutions, however. Schools leading the way in online distance education now include the likes of Penn State University, the University of Wyoming, East Carolina University and Oklahoma State University.
Investigate the school's accreditation. There are basically two types of accreditation available to institutions of higher learning -- national and regional. Regional accreditation is the most desirable because it generally indicates that the school has met a number of different criteria set by a regional accrediting agency. Regional accrediting bodies tend to be more stringent with their requirements than national accrediting agencies. National accreditation is still considered acceptable among members of the academic community, but regional accreditation is preferred. Regional accrediting bodies include the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the New England Association of Schools, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Learn to spot diploma mills and fake accrediting agencies. Be careful when looking online for a reputable distance learning university. Many online programs claiming to be accredited are touting credentials that belong to false agencies with no real legitimacy in the world of higher education. Some of these institutions offer degrees based on life experience, offer online classes that have no value, or even sell their worthless degrees. A legitimate accrediting agency will be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education. You can also find a list of fake or questionable agencies on geteducated.com, a site devoted to distance education that lists about 30 of these fake agencies Some of these agencies include the likes of the Council of Online Higher Education, an agency that appears to be legitimate, but has no real authority to grant accreditation.