The following online colleges didn’t make DiUlus’s top ten list, but they offer worthwhile online degrees nonetheless. Each has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report or received endorsements of comparable value.

• Boston University is renowned for its consistently high standards, and its online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs are no exception. Each is as rigorous as its on-campus counterpart. Undergraduates can choose from 24 majors and 31 minors. BU features a range of online master’s programs as well as online doctoral programs in music education, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

• Drexel University was established as a traditional campus in Philadelphia in 1891. It’s been identified as one of America’s “Best National Universities” by U.S. News & World Report, and it’s offered a wide variety of online programs leading to certificates, undergraduate degrees, and graduate degrees since 1996.

• Florida Tech University Online is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It has been ranked as a top national university by Barron’s Best Buys in College Education, the Fiske Guide to Colleges, and U.S. News & World Report. A notable feature of Florida Tech’s online instruction is the MP3 downloads; these allow students to leave their computers and listen to lectures anywhere. Florida Tech offers online degrees in business, criminal justice, healthcare, and liberal arts.

• Stanford University, one of California’s most respected universities, offers online master’s degrees and graduate certificates in engineering and business through its Center for Professional Development. In some cases, courses can be delivered at a student’s worksite.

Stanford University also offers free webinars (online seminars) to the public.

• The University of Maryland University College is part of the state University System of Maryland. Overcrowding on physical campuses has prompted the school to develop an exemplary online learning system, and even residential students are required to earn a few credits online. Dozens of online degree programs are available in flexible and affordable formats.

The online courses at the University of Maryland require an exceptional amount of writing; that’s the primary means of communicating with the instructor. You can test a sample course by clicking here.

• Vanderbilt University, a top institution in Nashville, Tennessee, was founded in 1873. America’s Best Graduate Schools ranks Vanderbilt’s partly-online master’s program in nursing among the top in its field. Education involves a combination of concentrated time on campus and online conferencing. The program is designed to let nurses earn an MSN while maintaining employment.