Pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in cyberspace could be a practical alternative for school-leavers and working adults.
The Jones International University was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS) in March. It is the first on-line university in the United States to be accredited by a nationally recognised body.
The school provides degree and certificate programmes to students around the world at a lower cost than a traditional university. Glenn Jones, chairman and founder of the university, said the on-line classroom environment provided more flexibility to students who might not be able to attend courses at a 'bricks-and-mortar' college because of geographical or other considerations.
The accreditation was based on a defined set of evaluation criteria, which included on-site reviews and frequent visits to the university's Web site. Apart from reviewing the educational offerings of the institute, the NCACS team also assessed its administration, financial status, admissions and student personnel processes, institutional resources, and relationships with outside communities.
Mr Jones said getting the accreditation from a recognised body had taken a very long time.
'This is still a very new idea and the accreditation could be different from reviewing a conventional institute,' he said.