I apologize for the delay in responding, and thank you for posting. Online animation education has come a long way since then. Today there are respected online programs, such as Animation Mentor and CG Spectrum, where working industry artists mentor students, alongside online degrees from accredited colleges.
When you compare programs, look at three things: the student reels (that's what studios hire from), who the mentors are and whether they're working in the industry, and how much one-on-one feedback you get. In animation your reel matters more than the degree itself. Our VFX, Animation and Motion forum is a good place to ask graduates about their experience.
