By Robyn Tellefsen

These days, everyone knows someone who's taking a class or even an entire degree program online. But if you're going to spend your precious time and hard-earned money on higher ed, you want to ensure a major return on your investment. Here's how...

What's the deal with accreditation?

With so many "Free Degree" e-mails entering your in-box, you need to ensure that the online degree program you choose is reputable. It comes down to accreditation. Of course, it's not that simple. "Schools will advertise that they're accredited, which is what everyone's looking for," says Steven Shapiro, vice president of marketing and communications at Jones International University (JIU, Englewood, Colo.). "But what does that mean?"

Here's a breakdown: Accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution or program that meets or exceeds predetermined criteria of educational quality. Basically, it's an academic stamp of approval. Accreditation ensures the quality of an institution or program, and assists in its improvement.

Believe it or not, just knowing a school should be accredited isn't enough. You need to find out who is conferring the accreditation and if that particular accreditation is recognized. The recognizers? Washington, D.C.-based Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a private nonprofit national organization, and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). They each review the quality and effectiveness of accrediting organizations (regional, national, and specialized/professional), recognizing many of the same ones, but not all. USDE recognition is required for institutions that seek eligibility for federal student financial aid, and CHEA recognition confers academic legitimacy. To learn some of the benefits of accreditation, check out the list on the right.

"You're hired!"

Now that you know your school is legit, will employers accept your degree?

"Because so many organizations are seeing the value of online training, it's becoming more widely accepted in the workforce," affirms Dr. Julia A. Teahen, president of Baker College Online (Baker, Mich.). There are virtually no colleges or universities that indicate a degree was earned online. And, more and more online students are finding their employers embracing the initiative and independent learning style indicative of a student who has online academic experience. In the classroom and in the workforce, technology is driving innovation. Those who can demonstrate mastery and experience are those who will have the leading edge.

Brian Mueller, CEO of the University of Phoenix (Phoenix, Ariz.), agrees, saying students who earn their degree online have a distinct advantage. "[Employers] gain a certain amount of admiration for [online students]. They consider them savvy and creative enough to succeed online."

Not only that, but eLearning can even boost your present career. "Institutions are embracing online learning, and a lot of our students have been promoted since getting an online degree," says Dr. Pamela Pease, president of JIU.

Case in point -- Tonya Gordon ended up with her dream job, doubled her salary, and feels challenged and fulfilled every day. This all happened within a few months of receiving her MBA online through Texas Woman's University (Denton, Texas). Gordon works in a startup environment as a group manager for Blockbuster's newly launched online customer loyalty department. And, her department is already 18 months ahead of schedule.

"I believe earning my degree online is helping me with my current job," she says. "I feel I have a better understanding of the different experiences and problems that people encounter online, which helps me help the customer."

It's only getting better.

Plus, online learning doesn't mean you're just reading books on the Web. "We have a high amount of interaction that is text-based, through threaded discussion boards," explains Teahen. "Some courses have instituted multimedia such as video and audio.

"And, the power in future innovation is plentiful, predicts Teahen. "We're looking at the next three to five years to implement more multimedia to enhance learning and to meet the multiple learning styles of the adult learner," she says. Dr. Tom Wilkinson, director of Virginia Tech's Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning (Blacksburg, Va.), agrees. "We're using a technology right now that allows for synchronous online learning with voice and data." As bandwidth issues are eradicated and new technologies emerge, he adds, course design will bring such seamless interaction to a higher level, with enhanced audio and video capabilities.

That kind of interaction enabled Rich Baich, chief information security officer for an identification and credential verification services provider, to apply what he learned in class directly to his work environment. Baich, who was named 2004 Information Security Executive of the Year in Georgia, completed a master's degree in financial management and an MBA at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC, Adelphi, Md.). He believes his online education has been an important component of his success.

"Both programs helped me broaden my understanding of business, finance, and program management," says Baich. "They helped me to be able to think globally while ensuring that I met immediate deadlines."

Tips for the transition

So, what should you do if you're considering distance learning? "Start by taking one short online class," advises Jerry Cellilo, an instructor and guidance counselor at the Los Altos, Calif. Foothill College. Many colleges offering online degree programs have a course that provides an introduction to online learning, and taking that course can be a great way to assess your aptitude for the medium. Be sure to consult the list on the right: "10 questions to ask before selecting a program."

Some students may even want to take it a step further, says Mark Parker, executive assistant to the provost and adjunct assistant professor, Graduate Studies at University of Maryland University College (Adelphi, Md.). "Enroll in a small baccalaureate certificate program," he advises. A certificate program can give you an overall picture of distance learning, and most certificate program courses can later by applied to a baccalaureate program if you decide to continue with online learning. You can get a poor education sitting in a classroom and a spectacular education sitting at a home computer, or vice versa. Ultimately, you're the one who will determine the value of your degree -- online or off.