As online degree programs surge in popularity, questions inevitably rise about a program's legitimacy and quality. So how does one know if they are choosing a quality online program or enrolling in a diploma mill?

Accreditation

The first thing to look for is accreditation. Accreditation is a rigorous process that shows a school meets a certain set of established standards. A quality program will absolutely be accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

Faculty Qualifications

Most online students never come face-to-face with their instructors, but rest assured, most online courses are taught by core faculty members of the college or university who teach classes to students on campus as well. According to Growing by Degrees: Online Education in the US, 2005, a study by the Sloan Consortium, 65% of online courses are taught by core faculty, while those same universities responded that 62% of on-campus classes are taught by core faculty. The remainder of courses are taught by adjunct faculty. In addition, 38% of faculty members at schools that offer online study believe they spend more time preparing for online courses than they do on-campus courses.

A variety of Internet resources make it easy to find out more information about course instructors to ensure their qualifications. University directories often lead to faculty biographies, while library reference searches can turn up publications an instructor has authored. If nothing else, a simple Google or Yahoo! search can help find more information. Don't be shy about asking a school about an instructor's qualifications when looking into an online program. It is important to know and be comfortable with the educational and professional background of someone who will act as your mentor for the duration of the course.

Coursework and Study Time

Find out what the course materials are. Courses should use the same textbooks and study aids that traditional programs use. Students should have a mandatory number of hours of work to complete to meet the credit requirements. Many online programs, for instance, have an attendance requirement and students are required to log in a certain number of times.

Instructors should be available for discussion as much as on-campus instructors are. Programs with many resources for interaction and discussion offer students opportunity to really hone their skills and viewpoints on the class material. Many online programs feature software that includes chat rooms, discussion boards, and other interactive opportunities for peers and instructors.

Support Programs

On a college campus, students have access to a wealth of support programs, including a financial aid office, career services department, library, and more. A quality online program will offer the same resources to its students. Technology makes it possible for students around the world to tap into a college's library system or work with a career advisor on future planning. Support services should be easily accessible and provide help to students when needed, and support personnel should be available for discussion through email, chat, or telephone to ensure questions are answered and the educational experience is a good one.