The term "accreditation" refers to the recognition that a college or university has met certain minimal standards determined by an organization to which the US Department of Education has granted authority to set those standards. Alternatively, individual programs can be legitimately accredited by a professional organization.
Some benefits of online study include the period during which class participation takes place, the opportunity to socialize with students outside one's own geographic location, and the convenience offered by "asynchronous" study--the ability to participate in classes when their schedule permits . However, students must be disciplined enough to work outside the requirements of a traditional program.
A wide variety of degrees are available from both online and traditional universities. However, some limitations exist on degrees from online universities that do not exist with traditional universities. For example, some psychology and nursing degrees are not offered due to the "practical" skills component of training; however, internship requirements set by some programs may meet accreditation standards for those programs.
For other universities or employers to accept online degrees, the school must be legitimately accredited. However, even outside accreditation requirements, Melanie London of Vault.com reports that a 2005 survey on the acceptability of online degrees indicated that "Eighty-five percent of employers feel that online degrees are more acceptable" than they were five years earlier, in part due to the discipline required to complete them .
Individuals who require flexibility to meet their study needs will frequently benefit from online study. In addition, many online programs are more affordable than traditional programs or offer their own financial aid programs, making them more accessible to students who have no financial aid benefits available.