Scientific progress and advancement of technological tools have immensely aided human civilization and have revolutionized the means of communication. One of the most prominent and significant innovations are computers and with the coming of the internet, communicating to any corner of the world is no more a difficult proposition. The field of education too has benefited considerably from these advanced technical tools and online education, also referred to as e-learning is very common today. e-learning is primarily concerned with the imparting of knowledge via the internet to students or subscribers in various parts of the world and on the completion of the course, degrees are awarded and these are referred to as online degrees. With the coming of online education and e-learning, it is no longer necessary for the students to attend high schools or colleges but rather they can enjoy the pleasures of virtual learning via the internet.

It is interesting to note that today the demand for these online degrees have encouraged the growth of various online colleges which need the approval and accreditation of relevant authorities. In the United States itself, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or CHEA along with the Department of Education is responsible for recognizing these online institutes under the umbrella organization known as Distance Education and Training Council or DTEC.

If one follows the guidelines set down by the United States Department of Education, it will be noted that the primary criteria of the department is to ensure that the standard of education and academic materials offered by these online colleges are at par with the notable educational institutions and do not compromise with the quality.. In the United States , there are six regional educational boards for accreditation. These are Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

However there are certain factors to be kept in mind in such cases. The internet is abuzz with various fake diploma mills which provide fake degrees and therefore there is a great possibility of being duped. Therefore, it is advisable to check the credentials of the online institutions and also the degrees offered by them. The most important factor that needs to be noticed in this case is the accreditation from the education department and other relevant authorities.