There weren't that many accredited off-campus degrees out there and the fields of study were very limited. In the United States, most of the revered older colleges and universities looked down their noses at distance learning. That being the case, newer colleges and universities tended to steer clear of it as well, fearing their chances of gaining an honored reputation would be spoiled by venturing into distance education. Not any more. Many colleges and universities, old and new alike, have finally come to their senses.
Distance learning is here to stay and it is an appropriate vehicle for the modern lifelong learner.
There are lots of accredited distance degree programs available at the undergraduate and graduate level today. With only a few exceptions, then, I now recommend going for an accredited degree. A lot of the accrediting agencies out there are just as worthless as the degrees they accredit. Another way to go about this is to hire an independent professional who makes a career knowing what is out there and knows how to separate the good from the bad. SM can do this for you.