Some institutions with online degrees available are accredited and some may not be. It's important for you to check the accreditation of the school prior to enrolling in any online courses. The University of Phoenix Online appears to be growing quickly and their website has this to say in regards to its' accreditation: University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and a member of the North Central Association (NCA). The Higher Learning Commission 30 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 2400 Chicago, IL 60602-2504 (312) 263-0456 The North Central Association (NCA) is one of six regional institutional accrediting associations in the United States (each is named after the region in which it operates-Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, Western). These are the associations that grant membership to all regionally accredited educational institutions, including Harvard, Princeton and Yale. While independent of one another, the regional associations cooperate extensively and acknowledge one another's accreditation. Loyola University also has online degrees available and these types of college credit can be an excellent way for someone to further their education when they do not have the ability to attend the actual institute, or if the student's available hours do not coincide with the land-based course schedule.

If they want to be taken seriously, they do. Most online universities (or ground schools with an online outlet) will be very up-front about their accreditation, like Colorado Technical University (http://www.coloradotech.edu/About-CTU/Accreditation.aspx). You can also double-check a school's accreditation with the US Department of Education.

probably not,as everything on the internet is they're for a reason (cash)

Do not take classes with a college that is all online. I have been through a few, and they all suck. The teaching is horrible. The classes are usually only five weeks long, and they call it accelerated learning. Kaplan is all online, but their classes are ten weeks long and the curriculum is lacking. I ditched American Intercontinental University, University of Phoenix, and Kaplan, and in each one I was an Honor student. I finally ended up returning to ITT Tech, where I earned my first degree on campus. ITT Tech offers online classes, which I am enrolled in, but they also have real buildings rather than offices that do not house classrooms. Just some input from someone who has been around and learned when a scam is a scam. All online schools don't have the experience to handle students, and they get their instructors from the most ignorant pool of people you will most likely ever meet. Plus, when a school is all online, it just feels like you are pulling your degree out of a cereal box.