In terms of academic quality, most accredited online universities offer the same courses and degrees, as do traditional universities. Past research in this area also indicates that no significant differences have been found between distance learning and traditional learning. Most online courses are even lead by qualified professors, all of whom hold advanced degrees, such as Ph.D.'s and Master's.

Other factors, which may affect an online university's academic quality, include how well established the university is, its endowment (which affects a university's quality of technology), how selective it is, class sizes, and the quality of faculty.

Numerous studies have also been conducted, comparing the quality of traditional universities with that of online universities. The following was discovered:

• Students at online universities tested 20% better than those attending traditional universities.
• Students at online universities also spend 50% more time collaborating with one another than students in traditional academic settings.
• No significant differences have been found in terms of overall success and motivation between online university students and traditional students.
• Overall, those who pursue online educations, tend to be highly motivated and self-disciplined.
• In fact, the way education is delivered, i.e. lectures, videos or audio files, has little effect on a student's academic success.

Based on these above findings, most individuals can rest assured that they are still getting a quality education whether they attend an online university or a traditional one.