You have been misled. And others, here, will tell you to stay away from an online degree; that it will not be respected; or that it’s worthless or from a diploma mill. They are categorically incorrect. In fact (and I’m adding this sentence after having posted since what I’m about to write about was posted while I was writing the below), the stark ignorance and misinformation about online degrees, generally, shown by some of the other answerers here, is just astonishing.

“Online” is just one form of “distance learning.” Most legitimate, fully-accredited colleges and universities now offer online programs… even Yale and Harvard.

People sometimes confuse “online” with “diploma mill” because “online” tends to be the only modality that diploma mills use. And, of course, if the “degree” (if you can even call it that) is from a diploma mill, then, yes, it’s useless. It’s not even a degree. It’s just theft of your money.

Distance learning degrees are IDENTICAL to in-classroom degrees. The coursework is exactly the same… just as rigorous. In fact, the US Department of Education, in studies (on of which was released just this past June), has determined that distance learning students generally work harder, are more self-disciplined, and tend to take their studies more seriously… and do better.

As long as any online (or any other form of distance learning) degree is from a school that is ACCREDITED by an agency approved (to accredit) by the US Department of Education (USDE) and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), then it is fine.

NEVER take any school’s word for it that it’s accredited, however. ALWAYS look it up in either or both of the USDE and/or CHEA databases at:

http://www.chea.org/search

http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation

If the school — online or other wise — in which you’re interested isn’t in one or both of those databases, then it is NOT accredited…. no matter WHAT it claims. Even some perfectly legitimate (but still unaccredited) schools sometimes embellish their accreditation (or, more accurately, lack thereof) status; and nearly ALL diploma mills do… some of them going so far as to make-up their own completely fake (but nevertheless very impressing sounding) “accreditors.”

Do not be fooled. ALWAYS look it up. Always.

Given your schedule, you’d better be careful about taking too many classes. School takes time… almost more time than you even have. You’ll have to be VERY disciplined.

And try to take only “asynchronous” classes… which means that there’s more or less no set class schedule, and your study schedule is pretty much up to you.

Hope that helps.

dont be fooled…online degrees can often be as much as traditional schools

LOL duke devil…ur answer is classic..love it!

burning the money that could be used to get an online degree would get more atttention than having one

Most employers think they’re worthless, do a little research about many of the online colleges and you’ll see why (University of Phoenix being a great example as to why they have no value). You do have an option though, many state schools and community colleges offer courses online, your employer will never know that you took some classes online because your degree will come from a respected institution. Take whatever classes you can online through a REAL school and then take normal classes when you can fit them in with work.

Online education is starting to overcome its bad reputation. Your degree will be totally acceptable to an employer as long as it came from a regionally accredited school. Lots of brick-and-mortar colleges have moved some degrees online. One regionally accredited school offering online bachelor’s degrees is Colorado Technical University:

http://www.coloradotech.edu/degree-programs/