Verify the accreditation of online doctoral programs

Online paper mills have sprung up that offer courses of study and degrees, but their degrees do not command respect. Rather than getting a "degree you buy," be sure that you are expending energy on a course that will advance your career.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Education maintains a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies that guarantee the quality of education offered by institutions of higher learning. Also, if your field of study is one that is licensed, be sure the degree program is recognized by the licensing bureau; for example, a program on public health.

Choose a university that offers accredited online doctorate programs

Major players offering accredited online doctoral degrees are the University of Phoenix, Capella University, Walden University and Argosy University. Other universities also offer online doctorate programs in various fields.

I recommend: Look at this list from Elearners for colleges offering doctoral programs in business. Check the Adultlearn website to find online PhD programs in fields as diverse as computer information systems and physical therapy.

Seek funding to get your online doctorate

As with undergraduate and master's degrees, scholarships are available for the pursuit of online doctoral degrees. Criteria must be met, no matter the type of learning. However, some scholarships exist for online learning.

I recommend: Walden University, which is entirely online, offers scholarships for doctorates. The University of Phoenix  also offers financial options for those seeking online doctoral degrees.