Make sure that online colleges you are considering are accredited. Attending an accredited online college lets employers and graduate schools know that your education meets certain standards of quality. A database of regional and professional accrediting agencies and member schools is maintained by the U.S. Department of Education, where you can double-check a school's claims of accreditation by a reputable agency.
There are many online schools with good reputations and well-regarded programs, but also many diploma mills with shoddy financial policies and substandard academic offerings. Vicky Phillips has been researching, rating and ranking online college-degree programs since 1989 and now serves as chief analyst at GetEducated.com.
Diploma mills will claim that you can receive a degree in a very short period of time. Cross-reference course offerings and degree requirements of online schools with those of brick-and-mortar schools. Also, if a school tells you your degree can be earned after you pay a flat fee, be wary. Universities and colleges generally charge for classes by the credit hour, not in lump sums.