Long answer?

Most “online” schools don’t have good reps. Consider your options carefully.

There are reputable, “brick and mortar” schools that offer degrees online. Their good reputation for their on-campus programs will flow over into their online program.

So to be quite blunt, an online OR an offline degree from U Phoenix, or Devry, or ITT, will only get you so far, because the reputations of these schools isn’t the greatest. A degree of any sort from UMass Amherst, or U Nebraska Lincoln, or U Maryland, will likely be seen as more acceptable by more employers, and may, therefore, get you further.

Some great universities that offer online degrees include:

University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

University of Denver

University of Maryland

Duke University

Drexel

Carnegie Mellon

Penn State

Ball State

U Nebraska – Lincoln

Babson

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

University of Illinois

Penn State

Colorado State U

And there are others. But in general, when you’re looking for a distance learning degree, try to find a program at a school that has a good reputation for their “brick and mortar” campus.

So also look at your own state colleges, and, if an associates is what you want, also your local community college. You may be surprised at what they offer online/via distance.