Recommended Colleges & Programs
Baker CollegeAccreditation: Regional (NCACS)
Online Degree Programs: 30+
Request Free Information
Argosy UniversityAccreditation: Regional (WASC)
Online Degree Programs: 25+
Request Free Information
Keiser UniversityAccreditation: Regional (SACS)
Online Degree Programs: 50+
Request Free Information
Walden UniversityAccreditation: Regional (NCACS)
Online Degree Programs: 60+
Request Free Information
Find Your Online Degree Now
followers
click here to follow us on
Accreditation of Online Degree Programs
Understanding Accreditation
Will potential employers value and respect your online degree, and consider it equal to one earned on-campus? Will the credits that you earned online transfer to another college or university? Will your online coursework be as rigorous, stimulating, and worthwhile as that completed on-campus? An important part of answering these and other questions about online education is understanding accreditation and the accreditation process.
What Exactly Is Accreditation?
Accreditation is process through which post-secondary educational institutions are evaluated against educational standards to ensure a high level of educational quality. Accreditation is most often obtained through a peer-review process in which faculty from accredited institutions help to conduct evaluations of either new non-accredited institutions or accredited institutions seeking renewal. The standards used to conduct these evaluations vary but in general they assess: the institution's mission, goals and objectives, resources and resource allocation, student admission requirements, student support services and the quality of the faculty and educational offerings.
What Is An Accrediting Agency?
Unlike the practices of most other countries, in the United States accreditation of institutions of higher education is not conducted by the government. Instead, it is a voluntary process that is implemented by private nongovernmental accrediting agencies. At present, there are both regional as well as national agencies involved in the accreditation process. The only role that the government plays is to evaluate these accrediting agencies using well developed criteria in order to identify those considered to be "reliable authorities" on the quality of institutions of higher education.
Why Should I Care about Accreditation?
Knowing something about a school's accreditation can tell you a lot about the value of the degree or course for which you are paying. If you obtain a degree or take a course from a non-accredited institution you may find that the degree is not recognized by some employers or that the course credits may not transfer to other institutions. Understanding accreditation can also help you identify and avoid "diploma mills" (i.e. an unaccredited institution that grants degrees without ensuring students are properly qualified).
Will potential employers value and respect your online degree, and consider it equal to one earned on-campus? Will the credits that you earned online transfer to another college or university? Will your online coursework be as rigorous, stimulating, and worthwhile as that completed on-campus? An important part of answering these and other questions about online education is understanding accreditation and the accreditation process.
It is important to understand that the term "accredited" is used rather loosely by some institutions, and therefore you have to know what to look for when checking a school's accreditation. All institutions of higher education, whether online or "brick and mortar," should openly provide information on their accreditation to prospective students. This documentation should clearly state that the institution is "accredited" and should list a specific accrediting agency. Some unaccredited schools use terms that give the appearance of accreditation when in fact none exists. You should be aware and cautious of the following terms and phrases: pursuing accreditation, chartered, licensed or registered, recognized, authorized or approved. If these phrases are used without the term "accreditation" you should be sure to conduct a more detailed investigation.
It is also important to review the qualifications of the accrediting agency which has evaluated and approved the institution. For example, the "American Association of Accredited Colleges and Universities" might sound official, but this organization was actually created by a college to accredit itself. This example illustrates the point that although the U.S. government (via the Department of Education) evaluates accrediting agencies, there are many that are not approved and yet still operate, often in less than reputable ways.
How Can You Ensure That The Accrediting Agency Is Reputable?
Simple, be sure to check whether if it is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education by visiting their listings of national and regional accrediting agencies.
You may also check the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is a nongovernmental organization that recognizes accrediting agencies and helps to coordinate policy and research on accreditation issues. The CHEA maintains a list of national and regional accrediting agencies that have been deemed to meet high quality standards.
Is Accreditation for Online Education Different Than On-Campus Education?
The answer is yes and no. Both the regional and national accrediting agencies, that are responsible for all accreditation including programs offered at a distance, hold distance learning institutions to the same high standards as other colleges and universities.
Is Accreditation A "Cut-and-Dry" Issue?
The short answer is no. First, just because an institution is accredited does not mean that you are guaranteed a high quality education. It simply means that the infrastructure and educational offerings necessary for a good education are present. What you get from these resources depends a lot on what you put into your experience.
Second, even if two institutions are accredited, they may not allow you to transfer credit from one to the other. Other factors, such as your GPA, current and past degree programs, duration of the course, etc. may also factor into your ability to transfer credits.
Is Not Having Accreditation A Bad Thing?
Not necessarily! It is important to stress that just because a school is not accredited does not mean that they are inferior or illegal. For example, there are innovative non-traditional schools that may not have sought accreditation for legitimate reasons. In addition, some types of institutions that offer only professional training or continuing education may not be eligible to seek accreditation from the organizations previously mentioned.
As a result, it is likely that your education plans will play a role in how important accreditation is to you. For example, if you are seeking an online MBA, then you will likely want an accredited university or college. If you are simply looking to learn word processing then an online "training institute" that is not accredited might be fine. When making decisions about which online program is best for you, it is important to not only consider the institution's accreditation status, but your educational goals and learning needs as well.
