Not so long ago, getting a college degree meant enrolling in a four year program, buying a book bag, packing a lunch and heading off to campus every day. Now, with the proliferation of correspondence and on-line courses, getting a degree is easier than ever. But how can you be sure you're getting an authentic education, and not just a string of letters after your name? Nexus asked administrators at some of the leading universities in Colorado what the most important questions are when opting for a long-distance college degree. Here's what they said.

Accreditation.  "For students seeking a degree, the most important factor is not the method of delivery but whether or not the institution is accredited," says Randy Kouba, director of admissions at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. Accreditation refers to transferability of credits from one institution to another and a recognition of quality standards by other institutions. But buyer beware: almost every school claims some kind of accreditation. How can you tell which ones are legitimate?

"There are some scams claiming a form of accreditation," says John Ebersol, associate provost for the Division of Educational Outreach at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. "But on closer examination, nobody's ever heard of the accrediting body, or the school is self accredited. International students in particular are getting duped by this, because they don't understand that in America accreditation is regionalized and independent of government." If a school claims to be accredited, ask by whom. The top Colorado-based schools are typically accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in Chicago.

Faculty.  "If you're seeking an on-line degree, you shouldn't get less in terms of quality and attention from faculty," says Sheila Kaplan, President at the Metropolitan State College of Denver. "You want faculty who are going to be there to teach on-line, not just a university name." Really, a school is only as good as its instructors, so ask explicit questions about the faculty and their credentials. Some programs hire part-timers to handle on-line instruction-be sure to find out with whom you will be interacting.

Interactivity covers a full spectrum, from passive interactivity, like downloading text or video to active interactivity, like E-mail correspondence with faculty and student chat rooms. A percentage of your grade may even be class participation in a chat room-and that's all done with software these days. According to Kaplan, studies show that a high degree of interactivity gives students more personal attention from faculty and allows them to participate at their convenience. For example, they can E-mail the teacher a question at 2 a.m., or send a homework assignment in at sunrise.

"It's about how to manage and shift time," says Ebersol. "I won't say distance learning is better than classroom learning, but it allows flexibility for people who may not have been able to participate in an advanced education otherwise-like the handicapped, or mothers with children."

Degree. Most accredited schools give the same degree for on-line and on-campus education. "You would be issued a transcript just like you would if you had gone to school and sat in the class," says Barbara Schneider, director of admissions at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

"(At Metro), it will still be a four-year degree," says Kaplan. "The transcript won't stipulate whether you took the course on-line or on-site. Our commitment is that the content will be comparable or better."

According to Ebersol, you still need to be careful before signing up. "Some institutions distinguish between an off-campus and on-campus degree," he says. "And in the eyes of some people, an off-campus degree is a second-class degree. You don't want to spend several thousand dollars and several years just to have a 'less-than' degree."

Goals. The most important question-what are your objectives-can't be answered by the admissions department. For you, degree may not be an issue. You may want certification of an additional skill, like web design or basket weaving. In that case, accreditation may not matter either. Make sure you're clear on what you want.

  And whatever your goals, start with motivation and commitment. Without mandatory classroom attendance, it's easy to procrastinate. Says Schneider, "Most students don't realize that they could get failing grades just by turning off their computer."

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