Check to see if the degree program has been accredited by a state and/or federal accreditation bureau. Accreditation is one of the best ways that you can know if the program provides a quality education. Visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website to see if the programs you are evaluating are accredited.
Investigate the instructors' qualifications of the degree program. Find out how much experience each instructor has teaching and how much experience they have in their field of study. You should be able to find this information on the degree program's website. If you cannot find it, contact a representative of the program to get the information you need.
Contact some or all of the instructors who will be teaching you and ask how the course will be formatted. You should be able to find the instructors' email addresses and/or telephone numbers on the degree program website. Will you have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and other students online? How will each lesson be presented? How will you be evaluated? Ensure that at least some of the course format suits your own learning needs.
Assess the support network present at the online school. Is there adequate technical support if you have any issues accessing the program's materials? Is there a virtual library that you can use through the online school or are you expected to do research at your own local library? Can you easily contact the instructor or a teaching assistant when you have questions? Can you easily contact the school itself to quickly deal with administrative issues, such as registration?