Find Out Why Accreditation Matters Before You Enroll

As you’re making your decision to return to school, one of the most important things you should do is make sure the online college you choose to attend is accredited. You will find that there are many ways a school can earn accreditation, but the most important thing is that you know the school you choose is being held accountable by a regional or national accrediting organization. A degree from an accredited institution will ensure all the hard work and effort you put into earning your degree will pay off for you when you graduate.

Why Do Students Need To Make Sure They Attend An Accredited School?

One important reason to make sure the school is accredited by a credible agency is to allow for the transfer of credits from one school to another. If you earn credits from a non-accredited college, no accredited college or university will accept the transfer of your credits to their institution.

Additionally, when you graduate and are ready to enter the job market, you want to be confident that your prospective employer will consider your degree valid. Regardless of what type of degree you earn, a degree from a non-accredited institution will not likely help you attain the career you want.

Why Do Schools Want To Be Accredited?

Colleges and Universities that want to be considered respectable institutions offering quality education to their students must be accredited to gain the respect of the higher education community and to attract students to enroll in their degree programs. Another important reason colleges and universities want to be accredited is so they can participate in the Federal Student Financial Assistance programs which allow them to offer financial aid to their students. Without the accreditation designation by a recognized accrediting agency, schools are not entitled to these funds which are administered under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Click here to find out more about the Higher Education Act.

It is important to note that both regional and national accrediting agencies, even those recognized by the Secretary of Education, have no legal control over educational institutions or programs. According to Ed.gov, “They publicize standards of quality or criteria of institutional excellence and approve or renew membership to those institutions that apply and meet their accreditation standards or criteria.”

Making Sure You School Is Accredited

The best way to make sure your college or university of choice is accredited is to check the database of the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. You can also question the enrollment advisors with whom you speak at each institution to gain vital accreditation information.

Real accredited schools are proud to provide the accreditation information to prospective students. This is usually displayed on the school’s website. Find that information and then validate it with these reputable resources.

Regional Accrediting Organizations

Regional accrediting organizations do not usually accredit for-profit institutions. The regional organizations review entire institutions of higher learning in six different regions of the U.S. You can find a list of recognized regional accreditation agencies here.

National Accrediting Organizations

National organizations are not limited to particular regions of the country. The majority of schools they review are for-profit, but they do review a smaller percentage of nonprofit schools as well. They often work with schools that focus on one particular type of degree. Review a list of recognized national accrediting agencies here.

Specialized Accrediting Organizations

The specialized accrediting organizations review various types of programs in all parts of the country. Their focus is on specific programs of learning and single-purpose institutions. You can find a list of recognized specialized accrediting organizations here.

How Do Schools Earn Accreditation?

To become accredited, a school begins by applying to an appropriate accrediting agency, depending upon the type of accreditation the institution is seeking. Schools seeking general accreditation status might apply to the correct regional accrediting agency. Other schools might be interested in seeking accreditation for a particular type of program.

There are many types of programmatic accrediting that specialize in certain types of program accreditation. To explore these types of accrediting agencies for various degree programs, please visit the CHEA website’s listing.

Understanding the Pre-Accreditation Status

The USDE grants accrediting agencies with the status of Pre-Accredited if they meet certain criteria and the US Secretary of Education believes the agency will fulfill all requirements to become a recognized agency. This allows the agency time to complete all of the requirements to become recognized and still function as a recognized agency. This status is only allowed for a limited time of 4 – 5 years. The agency must fully meet the criteria to become a recognized agency by the end of the set period of time. To view a list of current agencies with Pre-Accreditation Status, click here.

Watch Out for Diploma Mills and Accreditation Mills

It is important to learn to recognize false claims of accreditation. Unfortunately, there are untrustworthy sources of diplomas and college degrees. These are often referred to as “diploma mills.” The same is true of accrediting agencies known as “accreditation mills.”

If an untrustworthy “college“ or “university” is not actually accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, it will often boast accreditation status through bogus accrediting agencies. The primary way to recognize fake grantors of degrees and unacknowledged accreditation agencies is the ability to actually purchase the degree or the status of accredited.