Online education used to have a reputation as being of lower quality than traditional college.
But a lot has changed in a very short time. These days, online degrees are widely recognized by other institutions of higher education and almost all major employers. But it must be from a school that is properly accredited. Usually, other schools and employers will not recognize a degree from a non-accredited school. Even worse, claiming a fraudulent degree on your resume is a crime in most states.
So always make sure your school is properly accredited, preferably by a regional association. Some schools are accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council. Degrees from these schools are recognized by more employers. But you may have trouble transferring credits to other colleges and universities.
If in doubt, go online and verify the accrediting association with the U.S. Department of Education. They publish a list of approved accreditation boards.
In 2008, Congress passed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, which has helped to regulate the industry. If an online college accepts federal funds, it must verify the identity of all the students it has enrolled. This has cut down on the fraud that used to threaten the reputation of the online education industry.