An online Ph.D. or professional doctorate is the real deal. Working professionals who want to earn the highest degree in their field – along with the expertise, respect, and career advancement that comes with it – no longer have to take time away from their career to go back to school. The revolution in online learning over the last decade means that many of the most prestigious, reputable and influential universities in the nation offer fully online doctoral programs in a wide variety of fields. (UVA ranks No. 4.)