Even though online degrees are often respected these days, the stigma caused by illegal "diploma mills" still exists. Colleges are doing something about that.

David Wood, director of distance learning at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, said all sorts of students enjoy online courses. He said the quality of the courses is as good as traditional classes.

"We take great strides to ensure that it is exactly the same content," he said. "We're really working to provide additional tools and resources for online learners to make sure that their experience is also the same."

It's nice to see these efforts. It would be a shame for a student to miss out on these options.