The age of the internet has led to a drastic number of colleges offering online degrees. Instead of attending classes in a traditional campus setting, students earning an online degree take courses by way of the internet.

A common myth is that employers view online degrees as less acceptable than degrees earned in a traditional college setting, however, there is usually nothing on a diploma to indicate that the courses were taken online. Moreover, if the online degree is earned from a properly accredited university, employers should view the degree the same as a traditional degree. Beware that schools have been known to make up accrediting agencies. In order to feel secure that you've chosen a university with a widely accepted online program, check to make sure the school has been approved by one of the six regional accrediting agencies. The agencies are as follows:

1) New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)

2) North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)

3) Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

4) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

5) Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC)

6) Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Commission for SeniorColleges and Universities (WASC-ACSCU)

In order to see each agency's recognized scope of accreditation, visit the website of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is composed of private, nongovernmental organizations whose purpose is to review higher education programs for quality.

As earning an online degree becomes a more popular method of receiving an education, the opportunities available to students are increasing. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, surveys showed that approximately 30% of post-secondary institutions offered a degree or certificate program designed to be completed through distance learning. By 2006-2007, two-thirds of Title IV, degree-granting post-secondary schools offered some form of online education.

Below I've listed a few popular schools with online degrees that are completed completely through distance learning. These schools are accredited.

Penn Foster College

Penn Foster Career School offers over 80 distance education programs. The school offers programs leading to career diplomas and certificates. Program options include areas such as Internet Marketing, Medical Coding and Billing, Graphic Design, Photography, and Veterinary Assistant.

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix offers a wide variety of programs with degree level ranging from an Associate Degree up through Doctoral Degree. The school also offers online certificate programs. Some examples of online degrees offered by the Universityof Phoenix include Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master of Health Administration, and Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.

Kaplan University

Kaplan University offers online courses in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. The university was established in 1937 and currently offers a wide variety of online degrees programs in nursing, legal studies, technology, health sciences, education, criminal justice, arts and sciences, and even law. The website even offers live chat sessions with admissions advisors to help determine your options.

Capella University

Students attending Capella University have a choice of 34 undergraduate and graduate degree programs with 122 specializations. Capella University also offers reduced tuition as well as other benefits to members of its alliance programs. The alliance programs include over 100 leading corporations, 25 percent of U.S. community colleges, and every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. The college alliances previously mentioned are designed to all students at member colleges to seamlessly transfer credits and ease the transition from a two-year program to a four-year program.

An excellent source for locating online schools and their degree specialties is monsterlearning.com. The website contains a database of over 8,000 schools with the option to have information on chosen degrees sent directly to you from the school.

Overall, the options for receiving an education these days have expanded dramatically over the past decade. Colleges and universities have gone from offering online courses to offering online degree programs which can be completed completely through distance learning. To sum up – do your research! Look at all your options. The variety of online degrees currently offered is remarkable and increasing each day. Also, make sure the school you've chosen is accredited by one of the agencies previously mentioned. By doing your research, you'll find an accredited online school that offers a degree that is right for you!