Remember Me
forgot your password?

Why Does Attending an Accredited Online College Matter?

Since the US does not have a special cabinet or department that monitors postsecondary education, accreditation was created so students could learn more about the quality of education they would receive when attending certain colleges and universities.

Accreditation is awarded to postsecondary schools by various agencies, both regional and national, that have their own requirements schools must pass in order to consider themselves accredited. A short list of these agencies includes the following:

  • Middle States Association of Colleges and Universities, Commission on Higher Education

  • New England Association of Colleges and Universities, Commission Institutions on Higher Education

  • New England Association of Colleges and Universities, Commission on Technical and Career Institutions

  • Distance Learning and Training Council, Accrediting Commission

When looking for an online degree program, one way to judge the level of education you will receive is to look for agencies that have accredited the institution or the program and visit their websites to see which criteria they've used to determine the program's worth or if the institution is accredited at all. An accredited online degree can help employers and others validate the education you've received.

How Does an Online Program Become Accredited?

According to the Distance Education and Training Council 2008 accreditation handbook, institutions seeking accreditation from this agency must provide the following information in order to be considered:
  • Clearly outlined mission statement

  • Program curriculum, outlines and objectives

  • Instructional materials and testing materials

  • Curriculum for online study

  • Study instructions

  • Learning resources

  • Student affairs materials (distance learning)

  • Evidence of adequate record keeping

  • Student surveys

  • Faculty and administration background information

As you can see, becoming accredited by an accreditation agency is a rigorous process. Programs that become accredited have proven they are worthy teaching institutions.

Don’t be fooled to choose a Non-Accredited Online Program

If you decide to transfer to another college after completing your degree, most colleges and universities will only allow you to transfer credits from accredited schools. By choosing an accredited online degree program, you're choosing a program that is recognized not only by one or more educational agencies, but also other colleges, universities and employers.

If you try to seek employment after graduation from a program that's not accredited, most employers will not want to hire you. This is because they may feel the education you received was not of acceptable education standards for the positions they have available. Furthermore, they have no way of qualifying if it’s genuine.

When choosing an online program, look for accreditation symbols on the school's website. Most schools have a page devoted to accreditation. If you're still unsure, you can contact the issuing agency to find out when the accreditation was given and if it is legit.

An online accredited degree is very important for your future. Whether you transfer to another school or you want to find a job, the school you attend can have an impact. Even though accreditation may not seem like much of an indication of the school's academic offerings, it’s a good place to start when you want to find the best education investment of your time and money.

Mary Jackson

Mary Jackson is a contributor for http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com where you find useful information on distance learning colleges, accredited degrees online and links to accredited online colleges. See more related information on why college accreditation is so important to your education and also a list of top accredited online Colleges and Universities to choose from.

Rate this Article: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish

Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Online Education Articles
  • More from Mary Jackson

How To Earn A Bachelor Program Online

By: Collins Andrew | 14/11/2009
Earning a bachelor program comes easy nowadays, courtesy of the internet. With an online degree program you can earn various certifications that include associate, bachelor degree, and doctoral degrees from different online colleges in the United Sates America.

How To Earn A Bachelor Program Online

By: Collins Andrew | 14/11/2009
Earning a bachelor program comes easy nowadays, courtesy of the internet. With an online degree program you can earn various certifications that include associate, bachelor degree, and doctoral degrees from different online colleges in the United Sates America.

Big City Tutoring

By: campbella steven | 14/11/2009
From home lessons of small business services which does not require large start-up costs or training. In fact the service is excellent business for stay at home mom who likes to work with children and earn a little money on the side. In addition this home business provides flexibility while the teacher would be enough to spend several hours each day at school. Of course more classes can also be scheduled in accordance with personal preferences.

IBM 000-026 latest dumps

By: xanndy | 14/11/2009
Killtest offers free 000-026 exam questions, latest 000-026 Q&A the same as 000-026 real exam.

Job Application and MBA

By: Llana Herring | 14/11/2009
For enjoying the advantages of lucrative career, the single instrument to it is ideal, appropriate learning. In present field of business, the highly liked degree is of Masters in business Administration (MBA). It is the finest option for an individual who wants a manger role and leadership.

IIT JEE Examination 2010 – Success Tips

By: Sarvesh | 13/11/2009
Every student wants to get admission in the Best Engineering Colleges. For taking admission in these, he has to give many national level and state level entrance exams. IIT JEE is one of them. In this article, there are some tips to crack the IIT JEE Examination 2010 that may be very useful for you.

Elearning: Studying in the Digital age

By: Extramarks | 13/11/2009
Elearning is becoming the favoured choice for students across the world to assist them in the learning process. Online learning lets student access study modules anywhere, anytime. Educational help tools like Smart Learning Modules, Mind maps, Live Virtual Class to name a few provide the required help and support for a better understanding of concepts.

Online Traffic School

By: Kim Roddy | 13/11/2009
Since the boom of internet service and the World Wide Web learning different things and gathering information about any topic has become much easier. We can learn anything at home and the only requirements are a computer and an internet connection. One of these services is learning driving at home. It sounds strange but it is very handy and easy to use.

Online Education Degree - 7 Things You Must Do Right to Succeed

By: Mary Jackson | 14/10/2008 | Online Education
The ability to obtain an online education degree has opened the educational doors for many students who cannot afford to attend school on campus as a full-time student. Distance learning courses definitely provide some advantages over the traditional college education. But, because of the methods of delivering and receiving the material, students must consider the 7 things necessary in approaching an online education successfully.

Distance Learning Degrees - What Do Employers Think of Them?

By: Mary Jackson | 30/09/2008 | Online Education
To verify the educational quality of any institution, students, parents, and potential employers should be concerned about accreditation status.

Do Potential Employers Value Distance Learning Degrees?

By: Mary Jackson | 30/09/2008 | Online Education
Despite all the unpleasant information going around about distance learning degrees, the fact is there are plenty of legitimate universities and colleges offering online degree programs.

Do Distance Learning Degrees Impress Employers?

By: Mary Jackson | 30/09/2008 | Online Education
As distance learning education becomes a way of life, it also leaves some employers worried. Why?

Ready for Online Distance Education? Read These 10 Rules First

By: Mary Jackson | 06/09/2008 | Online Education
What you need to know before you register in that online college.

10 Rules to Know When Choosing Online Distance Education Colleges

By: Mary Jackson | 06/09/2008 | Online Education
Before you enroll in a distance learning college, it's important to know how to select the college, what to expect, what you can do about it and when you can begin your education.

How You Can Benefit From the Exciting Accounting Career

By: Mary Jackson | 22/04/2008 | Education
Earning an accounting degree online allows you the freedom to pursue the career of your dreams without having to sacrifice valuable time in the classroom. By taking courses online, you will be able to study during times that are convenient for you. If you have to work while earning your degree, you will find that it's easier to balance all the daily tasks you have and still have time for an education.

How to Advance Your Career Through Distance Learning

By: Mary Jackson | 22/04/2008 | Education
Earning a bachelor's degree can increase your chance of finding a job in the field you want to work in. Taking classes online gives you the freedom to continue working while you earn your degree. For many students, this is the only way to complete their education. Many online programs have been developed over the years that allow students to earn various degrees online.

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup
Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.94, 6, w2)