Getting a degree online brings multiple benefits to those who may not have had an opportunity to get a college degree from a traditional school. For those with families or full-time job commitments, attending classes on campus may have been difficult to impossible to achieve, but with online universities, non-traditional students can finally get the degrees they seek. Another hindrance to some students is the cost of traditional colleges. Many online universities offer more affordable opportunities to get a higher education.

The benefits of online universities are many. Online universities provide flexible scheduling and, frequently, accelerated programs that allow students to do more studying in a shorter time frame, thereby allowing students to complete their studies more quickly. While many like to cite the fact that online programs rob students of the opportunity to participate in face-to-face discussions, the reality is that online classes do not allow students to sit quietly without participating as actually happens quite often in traditional classrooms. Not having to drive to and from a campus, working in the comfort of your own home, and the reduced cost of book expenses that may be eliminated due to online access to these same materials are other important benefits to attending an online university. But how do these online universities measure up to traditional colleges and career schools? Is it worth spending the time and money on an online degree when compared to traditional schools?

While online schools originally had a shady reputation, the tide has begun to turn and many reputable online universities are offering high-quality education to students who may never step foot on a campus. Not only has public opinion shifted with respect to online education, but more importantly, so has the perception among the educators making decisions about providing online education. A 2006 study by the Sloan Consortium indicates that 62% of chief academic officers at schools already engaged in online education believe that "the quality of online instruction is no more difficult than for face-to-face, and an increasing majority view the quality of online education as the same or better than face-to-face instruction."

In addition, those in charge of hiring graduates from both traditional and online schools are also looking favorably upon online education. Not only do a large majority of employers now see online education as credible as a traditional education, they are also willing to hire qualified students with online degrees. One field that seems especially accepting of online degrees is the field of Business Administration. Estimates from 2005 indicated that 40% of MBA students were enrolled in online degree programs. With the high standards of many online MBA programs and a perspective from employers that those students working online are also managing to hold down full-time careers, many employers welcome online graduates.

Top Online Universities

	Kaplan University - Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. With a successful track record of placing students in high-quality jobs, Kaplan University stands out among online colleges. Kaplan offers students the opportunity to take classes from the comfort of home and on their own schedule.
	University of Phoenix - Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, & Doctoral Degrees. Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, & Doctoral Degrees - As one of the world's largest universities, University of Phoenix has the educational resources to make every student successful in their degree plan. University of Phoenix offers classes at a campus and also available to take entirely online.
	Ashford University - Associate's, Bachelor's & Master's Degrees. With low program costs, Ashford University has affordable online programs for the budgeting student. Students could also complete their degree at an accelerated pace compared to other online schools.
	American InterContinental University - Associate's, Bachelor's & Master's Degrees. American InterContinental University provides students with well-educated and experienced professionals who have had practice in their field. They are dedicated in helping students achieve their educational, personal, and professional goals.
	Liberty University - Associate’s, Bachelor’s, & Master’s Degrees. As one of the largest evangelical universities in the world, Liberty University provides a variety of campus and online programs. Liberty University is one of the top college online education providers in existence today.
	Everest University - Associate's, Bachelor's & Master's Degrees. Everest University provides individualized attention in order to help students receive the education they're looking for. The university is dedicated in helping students get placed in their desired jobs upon graduation.
	South University - Associate's, Bachelor's & Master's Degrees. South University is a great choice for individuals of all degree levels. They offer online undergraduate degrees for those seeking to start a career, and graduate degrees for individuals wanting to advance in their current careers.
	Saint Leo University - At Saint Leo University, students will receive the same degree, quality education, and level of service in their online courses as they do at the university's campus locations. Students will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their jobs.
	Grand Canyon University - Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees. As a college in a Christian community, Grand Canyon University offers many benefits that other colleges do not provide. At Grand Canyon, each student is handled as an individual and made sure that every need is met.
	Capella University - Bachelor’s, Master’s, & Doctoral Degrees. Capella University offers several career programs that will place students on the right track to for starting a new, exciting career. Capella University offers interactive programs perfect for lifelong learners looking to obtain a secondary degree.