Top universities providing online graduate degrees

There are some top universities providing distance learning (or online) degrees. What does this say about the concept of distance learning? If top universities like Johns Hopkins and Stanford are willing to provide online degrees, then does this support the idea that online graduate degrees are equivalent to degrees obtained on campus?

• Stanford University offers an online masters program in biomedical informatics
• Johns Hopkins University offers a distance-learning master of public health
• Northwestern University offers an online master of science in medical informatics
• New York University (NYU) offers an online master of science in management and systems
• Duke University offers an online master of environmental management

I think it's fair to say that we'll see other top universities that will eventually offer online graduate degrees. I doubt that all of them will, but the trend will gradually change as universities recognize that certain programs can be delivered effectively online.

The online graduate degree that interests me the most right now is the Northwestern University Master of Science in Medical Informatics (MMI). Maybe you know some physicians who are currently enrolled in this program.