You probably either want to go on to get your bachelors or begin your career immediately if you’re pursuing an online associate’s degree.
In any case, your online degree won’t be worth much if the school isn’t properly accredited.
Make sure that the online degree you’re taking is accredited. If it isn’t accredited by a recognized board, it won’t be accepted by employers or other institutions of higher education. Before you look into an online college too much, investigate if it is accredited by a regional association. If you’re uncertain, you can visit the website of the U.S. Department of Education. They provide a list of all the recognized accreditation boards.
Some online colleges are accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). While most employers will be fine with this, you might run into trouble transferring credits to other colleges and universities.