Check to see if the online program you're interested in is accredited by the respected professional accrediting organization in your field of study. For example, nursing students must be sure that their online degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Online degree programs deliver their courses either synchronously (live) or asynchronously (using archived lectures). Be sure to choose an online degree program with asynchronous courses to maximize your scheduling flexibility, thus allowing you to work or fulfill other outside demands.
Most online degree programs do not require students to visit physical campuses. This saves students money on the cost of travel, whether that cost is wear on a vehicle, gas, or public transportation fares.
Distance degree programs allow professional students to work full-time while earning a degree, thus allowing distance learners to avoid the burdensome debt that on-campus students often accumulate.
Online degree programs accredited by respected professional accreditation organizations are just as valuable as those earned by on-campus students, and they provide similar professional opportunities.