[jeremymcanally]

I'm working full-time, so I've had to look into something like this, too. Troy University has a great one online that I'm taking: http://www.troy.edu/ecampus/

The most attractive part to me is that it's not "Troy University -- ONLINE CAMPUS ZOMG" on your degree; it's just a straight degree from the university that you earn from an online campus. A lot of other ones I looked at were very obnoxious about it being from an e-campus, which is pretty undesirable to me.

[walesmd]

I completely agree as well - after asking here on HN about online degree programs, I ended up selecting Troy University. It's a real, respected university, with local offices in my city (Augusta, GA) if I choose to take a course or two that aren't offered online (physics, for instance).

They use Blackboard, which I loathe, but you're not going to get any other choice when it comes to distance learning.

Instructors are smart and fair and classes are reasonably sized so that you actually remember students names and personalities. The program is pretty well-rounded and they offer a multitude of electives to really focus in on a specific area of Computer Science (programming, in my case) while still earning enough credits to declare a minor (I've yet to decide on Math or Political Science).

On the business side of things (books, tuition assistance, advising, etc) it feels like a real university and not an online business (like University of Phoenix and American Military University, my two previous attempts, did).

Highly recommended - just wish they offered a Master's in CompSci (although I hear, it is beneficial to attend a different school for graduate courses). Guess it shows your ability to adapt, adventurousness and interest in experiencing differing cultures.

[jhawk28]

Look into DePaul University. They do use Blackboard, but most of their CS, SE courses use their own software which isn't quite as painful.

[jsonscripter]

It takes thousands of hours to get a computer science degree and people are worried about the wording of the piece of paper they get at the end. I find that chilling. It also kind of shows you how useless that piece of paper really is.

Just to be clear, I believe a degree is extremely valuable but only because of the knowledge and skills you gain from the process. The end result isn't nearly as important.

[walesmd]

The name on the degree is very important as that name portrays what knowledge and skills you were given the opportunity to gain from the process.

A degree that reads [Insert State or Ivy League] University shows a much higher level of opportunity for the student to learn and experience than a degree from [Insert City or Random Rich White Man's Name] University Online.

[jackowayed]

It's not nearly as important to you as a programmer, but it's plenty important to you as a job-seeker.