I’d probably trust a distance learning branch of an established, accredited school more than I would trust something offered exclusively online.

Also, there are some disciplines (music comes to mind) in which there’s no substitute for in-person attendance. Anything with a hands-on component is not going to be easily done on-line.

At the same time, I see nothing wrong with using an on-line school for all the “padding” courses required by most schools at the undergraduate level in order to “round out” the graduate (as if we aren’t already super-sized from all the junk that’s mandatory at the high school level). The courses are usually so rudimentary as to be almost completely useless in terms of giving the student proficiency in the discipline, the class sizes are massive, and the only thing they’re really good for is forcing the students to waste time with a ton of make-work. Courses like these deserve to be skipped by students who can find an on-line option.

There are some firms who may look down on people with online degrees because they know a lot of it is a scam.

Just be careful. You’ll learn a lot, but the degree has yet to catch wide acceptance yet.

However, we both like that he can work on assignments (and there are a lot!) when he chooses, particularly because he worked full time. This just wouldn’t have been possible with a traditional set up.

Also, we purposefully went with a college that also has a well established campus. His degree will never say that he did the program online, just that he graduated from the college.

And you really need to be aware that online degrees are worthless in many fields. I would never hire someone without a lot of prior work experience who had graduated from the University of Phoenix for example – I’ve heard too much about problems with their programs from people who work as part time professors there.

I also (as a prior college advisor who is married to a Dean) have to say that going to a good well respected school does matter. I don’t care who claims that the local community college is just as good, unless you are going into nursing, teaching or law enforcement this just isn’t true. Ten years out of school my husband and I can count 120 people we graduated with that we’ve kept up with. Even in todays 10% unemployment rates, only 5 of those people were out of work (when we did this 3 months ago – they are ALL reemployed now!) And we did not go to an Ivy League expensive school. Just a top 10 ranked state school.

Contrast that with the students where my husband works – the school is a state school that used to be a community college and has just turned into a university – and my husband is getting e-mails and drop ins from students who are desperately seeking jobs – in the exact same field that our friends are still employed in.

To those who worry about the “creditability” of a online degree: unless you are going to a college known locally to produce poor graduates or ironically a well known commuting school (Deviry comes to mind), it’s been my personal experience that corporations hardly care or know where the degree came from that you have. They worry about experience a lot more. Most people seem to know very little about colleges other than locally or the one they attended.

Also, the social experiences at college are fantastic (I was very lucky). However, it’s just too expensive now to go solely for that in most cases. The point of a BA anymore, sadly, is to qualify for jobs in corporate America. If that’s what you want out of life, it’s critical to stop worrying about a social experience and figure out how to get that piece of paper as cheaply as possible.

I’d simply say make the most of your college education. If you’re going to spend the money to go to a school, don’t waste your time getting drunk/high constantly, don’t party all the time, and don’t rack up huge debt. Be frugal and focus on the reason you’re there: getting an education.

And there is still a prejudice in many corporations against such learning (including companies that are in online businesses!) The perception is still for many that “online” is less rigorous and less academically challenging.

The online programs are often more valid for certain types of majors than others.

And you have to remember that you miss out on the people you meet, the interactions and all the stuff that goes with that. Lifelong networking can often start in college. Not to mention personal relationships.

Of course, if you are going to night school or on weekends, you probably don’t have time to socialize before or after class. But don’t underestimate the people aspect of an education.

In traditional, post-high school college, that socialization can be meaningful for the rest of your life in terms of friends, contacts, etc. It’s not to be underestimated.

Distance should be an option, but personally, it’s NOT a replacement for education that has you interacting on a regular basis in class, and out, with educators, other students, etc.

But if it’s online or nothing, then online is preferable to nothing.