Anyone have advice on researching online colleges?

I would like to attend an online college but I would like to research what others think about it first. I don't want to spend money and receive a worthless degree. I am leaning towards Penn Foster but am not 100% sure yet. HELP!!!Anyone have advice on researching online colleges?
Make sure they are accredited by one of the major accrediting agencies in the U.S. A degree from a non-accredited college is worthless. You can check to see if they are accredited by going to the website below.


Also:


1. Make sure their program is compatible with your computer software. Some schools do not offer Mac-based programs and require you to have Windows-based software.


2. Make sure you have the time needed to dedicate to that specific college's requirements for on-line classes. Some schools allow you to go at your own pace, others require a specific amount of time each day, week.


3. Make sure you can get ALL of the requirements for YOUR specific degree on-line and don't have to go on a physical campus during the quarter/semester.


4. Make sure they have a financial office that will walk you through the program. They should ask you to fill out the FAFSA form (this gives you government money).


5. If you are looking for state grants, remember that they must be located in your state to receive those grants. I attended an on-line college located in NY and I live in CA so I didn't qualify for Cal Grants.


6. Make sure they don't lure you in and then expect a huge ';balloon'; payment at the end of the year.


7. They should offer you a personal counselor that you can email and ask questions.


8. Make sure they offer an on-line bookstore so you can get your books purchased before the class begins.





I attended Ellis College out of NYIT - it is a very good on-line college!! You finish a 3 or 4 unit class in 6 weeks with assignments due about 3x a week. You can work with classmates and the teachers are very good about responding to your questions in a timely manner.Anyone have advice on researching online colleges?
Try google.com , Ask.com or yahoo