Is an online masters program worth considering if its ran by a reputable, competitive university like the University of Southern California?

As a manager, I toss applications from online schools like U of Phoenix or Capella U into the circular file. On the other hand, a school like USC has a long and established reputation as being a top university with a good track record and I would gladly consider a candidate with an online degree from there.

Your post does not mention the subject area of the master's degree you are seeking, and that might matter. Your goal in earning an advanced degree is to qualify for jobs which demand the degree, improve your chances of being hired, and advance yourself into higher salary categories. Investigate places to which you might apply, and find out if those organizations have any objection to "online" degrees. As others have said, the degree might not indicate that it's totally "online," and a USC degree is perfectly respectable. But your point is well taken that you don't need to risk a lot of money (not to mention hard work) earning a degree which will have no value. The safest course, obviously, is to follow a traditional path, attend a brick and mortar school, earn a degree which is unquestionably valuable, and not have anything to worry about. An online degree from a recognized institution like USC is a fairly safe second choice (note the word "fairly") if you are absolutely determined to accept the risks of the "online" route.

if its from a for profit instituition then its not, no employers or school will consider that as a valid degree. if its tied from a brick and mortar school than its possible. what degree are you pursuing? Any stem degree will require hands on experimentation for your classes, and even hands on extr-caricular experience.

You just need to be careful. Many universities have on-line degrees that are indistinguishable from their ordinary degrees, and those would be fine. I think USC's are like that; for the MSW program, for example, you take the same classes with the same professors as the on-campus program, and the admissions requirements are the same.

Others are distinguishable and might not be considered valuable by employers. For example, Harvard Extension School offers limited degrees, and their admission requirements are different from the "real" Harvard.

Admissions requirements.