Kaboom! That’s the online education industry you hear, exploding onto the higher education scene faster than you can say distance learning. 

According to a 2008 report published by the Sloan Consortium, 3.94 million students took at least one online course in the fall of 2007, more than double the number from 2002.

But popularity among students is only one part of the equation. If you're interested in how to advance your career with an online degree, the success of online education programs may also be measured by employability, or in other words, popularity among employers. Do employers lend the same credibility to online degrees as they do to traditional ones?

Computer Management Inc., a recruiting firm based in Baltimore, MD, has specialized in placing candidates with technical degrees for 25 years. Owner Janet Miller says online degree candidates are well-positioned for today’s job market. 

“We receive outstanding candidates from online institutions,” Miller said. “Many online technical schools have established strong reputations with employers.” 

In 2008, Vault.com conducted a survey on how employers view online degrees. The results were mixed. While only 35 percent of the employers and hiring managers surveyed said they would give candidates with an online degree equal consideration, 83 percent said online degrees are more acceptable than they were five years ago. 

Online degree programs are gaining traction thanks to efforts by not only employers and students but the government, as well. In nursing, for example, the nation’s first accredited online baccalaureate degree nursing program earned approval in California. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger led the initiative and has called it a “win-win” step toward filling nursing shortages with highly qualified candidates. 

With power players like Schwarzenegger supporting online education, it may be time to say “Hasta la vista, baby” to the traditional degree candidate’s hold on the job marketplace.