Just like traditional brick-and-mortar universities, online colleges must be accredited in order to operate. An educational institution’s accreditation guarantees that it adheres to a set of high criteria and offers its students a valid and reputable education.
Types of Accreditation an Online School Can Have
The accreditation requirements for online schools may vary depending on the country or region, but generally, an accredited online school should have one of the following accreditations:
Regional Accreditation
As the most recognized of its type in the United States, regional accreditation demonstrates college or university prestige. It guarantees that the school satisfies the standards and expectations for academic excellence in a particular geographic area.
Here are a few regional accreditation agencies:
- SACSCOC – Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges
- Higher Learning Commission
- New England Commission of Higher Education
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- WASC Senior College and University Commission
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
National Accreditation
On the other hand, national accreditation, which is often given by a national accrediting organization recognized by the US, may also be held by certain online institutions. Education Department. Institutions that emphasize careers and make a profit are frequently those having national accreditation. While genuine, national accreditation is typically seen as inferior to regional accreditation.
Here are some national accreditation agencies:
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
- Accrediting Commission for Community & Precollegiate Arts Schools
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Programmatic Accreditation
A number of programs, especially those in the business, engineering, healthcare, and education sectors, may also hold program-specific accreditation from pertinent professional associations. Programmatic accreditation ensures that certain programs adhere to requirements unique to the sector and train students for professions.
Here are some examples of programmatic accreditations in the US:
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- National Association of Schools of Music
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Council on Social Work Education
- Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology
Difference Between Regionally Accredited and Nationally Accredited Online Colleges
The fundamental distinction between regional and national accreditation is that programs that have received regional accreditation are more widely recognized and transferable than those that have received national accreditation.
While regional and national accreditation clearly differ from one another, this does not necessarily imply that one is superior to the other. Although it obviously depends on what you wish to study, regionally recognized universities are typically thought of as being more exclusive than nationally accredited colleges.
However, paying this greater price gives them the freedom to transfer credits without having to pay for the courses twice. It also gives them the possibility of tuition refunds. Regionally approved universities are also frequently more costly.
Purposes of Accreditations in Online Colleges
To guarantee that an online college complies with accepted standards, it is crucial to confirm the institution’s accreditation status with established certifying organizations.
Additionally, because not all programs offered by a school may be certified, it’s crucial to examine the exact accreditation standards for the program or area of study you’ve chosen. Always be wary of diploma mills and other unreliable educational institutions that might not offer worthwhile education or certificates.
Here are the five purposes of accreditations in online colleges:
1. Quality Assurance
As a result of accreditation, a university is able to promote quality education by adhering to certain academic and operational requirements.
2. Financial Aid Eligibility
Students can access federal financial aid programs when they attend accredited institutions.
3. Transferability
Accredited colleges and universities are more likely to accept credits earned there.
4. Employer Recognition
Accredited universities are generally more likely to be recognized by employers.
5. Student Eligibility
Certain scholarship and grant programs require accreditation as a prerequisite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best accreditation for online colleges?
After understanding the different kinds of accreditations for online colleges and universities, it’s just right to wonder what the best accreditation for them is. In the past, several four-year public and private universities were accredited by regional accrediting organizations. The gold standard was regional accreditation, and these institutions strived to guarantee high-quality education in certain geographic regions.
National accrediting organizations also existed, although they were mostly used by trade schools or Bible colleges more often. This kind of acknowledgment was sometimes seen as inferior to regional accreditation. However, the difference between national and regional accreditors was virtually eliminated in 2019 when the ED allowed accrediting organizations to compete in one another’s historical territories.
As online programs have skyrocketed in popularity, so have fake accreditation agencies! The ED and CHEA databases present legitimate accreditation organizations that award institutional and programmatic accreditation.
How can I tell if an online school or online program is properly accredited?
In order for an education to be recognized by employers and other educational institutions, you must determine whether a school or online program is accredited. The same organizations, such as institutional and programmatic ones, that assess on-campus programs typically accredit online programs.
Institutional accreditation continues to be one of the most reliable indicators of a college’s reputation, even if programming accreditation might vary greatly. Students may find out a school’s accreditation status by conducting a fast search on the US Department of Education’s accreditation database.
Visit the school or online program’s official website for more information. The accreditation status of accredited institutions is usually available on their websites. There should be a section on their site discussing accreditations.
You can inquire directly with the admissions office or relevant department about the institution’s accreditation status if you can’t find any clear information about it. If you are interested in learning about their accreditation, you can ask them directly.
One thing to be careful of is the spreading of diploma mills online. Avoid institutions that claim accreditation but are not accredited by reputable agencies. Typically, diploma mills do not have accreditation and offer degrees that have few or no academic requirements.
The accreditation seal is usually displayed on official documents and websites of accredited institutions. The accreditation status and the name of the accreditation agency should be verified on the seal.
How can I easily avoid fake accreditations?
Fake accrediting organizations use names that are similar to those of authentic organizations and identify respected colleges among their members in an effort to look official. But you can typically spot a phony agency with a little investigation.
The ED and the CHEA both have searchable directories of accredited accrediting bodies. If the specified accreditation agency for a college is absent from any of these databases, you shouldn’t put your confidence in the institution or the agency.
What is an Accreditation Mill?
Some people refer to this term as diploma mill. An accreditation mill is an unreliable and frequently dishonest organization that makes claims to be able to accredit or recognize educational institutions and programs while frequently violating the strict quality requirements and peer review procedures that are common to legitimate accrediting organizations.
These “accreditation mills” are designed to provide the impression that programs and organizations are respected and legitimate even when they are not. You have to stay away from these online programs or institutions even when they have many appealing features to offer.
7 Ways to Detect Accreditation Mills
It can be challenging to detect accreditation mills, but there are several warning signs and red flags you can look for:
1. Fishy Information or Content
The information provided by accreditation mills about their faculty, curriculum, and accreditation status is usually vague or unverifiable. Programs and faculty information about legitimate institutions should always be readily available.
2. Lack of Rigorous Standards
Legitimate accrediting organizations have developed and gained general acceptance for a set of standards for judging the caliber of education offered by institutions and programs. Lack of criteria or extremely loose ones are common in accreditation mills, which facilitates the certification of inferior schools.
3. Minimal or No Student Reviews
Experts in the area evaluate the curriculum, faculty credentials, facilities, and other features of an institution or program as part of an extensive peer review procedure that is often part of the accreditation process. The rigorous peer review procedure is frequently absent from accreditation mills, and as a result, their reviews are sometimes skimpy or nonexistent.
4. Inconsistent or Unverified Claims
Accreditation mills sometimes use deceptive or impressive-sounding names that mimic legitimate accrediting institutions in their claims about their validity and recognition, which may be incorrect or inflated.
5. Low Costs
The cost of degrees offered by degree mills can be a fraction of what you would pay at a legitimate institution. Despite the importance of affordable education, unrealistic prices should raise suspicions.
6. Professional-Looking Websites
A diploma mill may mimic the look and feel of a legitimate institution’s website by creating professional-looking websites. The information may be inconsistent, misspelled, or outdated upon closer inspection.
7. Lack of Information
There may be accreditation mills without physical addresses or with only PO Boxes. There is a physical campus and contact information available for legitimate institutions.
How does an online academic institution or program gain accreditation?
Institutional accreditation contributes to the reputation of a college. The same organizations that assess on-campus programs often grant institutional accreditation to online schools. Standards for curriculum, student support services, and staff and student expectations are set by accreditation bodies. The ED and CHEA both keep searchable directories of accredited accrediting bodies.
The accreditation of a college is probably fake if its accrediting agency isn’t included in one of these databases. A lot of specific programs, including those in nursing, dentistry, law, and education, require programmatic accreditation. However, not every field has a suitable programmatic accreditation organization.
Which type of online school accreditation is the best?
Your educational and career goals matter in choosing what type of accreditation is best for your online school. Accreditation should be selected according to your needs and circumstances.
Your goals will determine which accreditation type is right for you:
- An accredited regional college is usually the best option for students looking for a comprehensive, well-rounded education with the possibility of earning a degree or transferring credits.
- You can attend a nationally accredited school or a program with relevant programmatic accreditation if your primary goal is vocational training or if you have a specific career path in mind.
- Distance education accreditation can help ensure the quality of your online education if you value the flexibility and convenience of online education.
- It is ultimately best to find accreditation that is aligned with your goals. To make an informed decision, you must research and verify the accreditation status of the institution or program you are considering. Having your education accredited ensures its quality and recognition.
Key Takeaways
Accreditation for online colleges is essential to ensure that students get a quality education, have access to financial aid, and have confidence that other educational institutions and the labor market will value their degrees. It offers an excellent quality that is advantageous to both the schools and the students.
Always keep in mind that an educational institution’s accreditation status is an important consideration. Make sure you properly verify this information to make sure you are putting your time, energy, and money into a legitimate and approved program or institution.
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