Cost - many well known colleges charge higher fees for their courses. This does not necessarily equate to better facilities, recognition and educational value. Just like you pay more for branded clothing - it doesnt always represent better value.
Accreditation - different online colleges are accredited by different authorities. Find out whether the degree you are seeking is accredited by the relevant educational authority for your particular state. Otherwise, you may end up with a degree that is not valid and not acceptable by your future employers. NOTE: some times colleges are in the process of gaining accreditation - so if you find a course that you particularly like, and there is no obvious accreditation, you can always check with the college and verify the state of the accrediation with the appropriate authority.
History of the College - check the number of past graduates compared to the enrollment numbers.
History of the Course - find out how long the particular course has been running, and how long the professors and tutors have been involved. This will indicate the maturity and effectiveness of the course. You are paying for experience and expertise - you want to make sure you get it.
Expertise of Lecturers - each have different educational levels. Most lecturers should have at least a Master’s Degree to qualify teaching an undergraduate course. The quality and quantity of lecturers is a good indication of the standards of the college.
Lecturer-Student Ratio - should ideally be low. Better colleges recognize the importance of this, and will not over subscribe a course just because there are no room size limits.You need adequate time to work with lecturers, even online.
Study Plan Parameters - check any progress limitations that may require minimum lessons completed per semester or restrict you from completing the course too quickly. When you do an online degree, you want convenience to be able to go at your own pace, within limits. Understand that the college also has to budget their resources, so may require you to finish within a set time, but allow you to set the pace within that period. Colleges generally have a minimum course study period and a limit on credit hours for the course.

Most online colleges have a student hotline number that will provide answers to any questions you have. Call them up before you enroll, even if you know the answer, its a good opportunity to test their willingness to support you.

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