Accreditation Guide

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Chances are, if you are considering higher education in this day and age, you have encountered just as many online learning options as traditional programs throughout your research. As college-age students are among the most adept at using technology for nearly every other aspect of their daily lives, it only makes sense that accredited online colleges would ramp up distance education efforts geared toward this demographic. Online programs have become increasingly diverse and have continued to gain respect among educational institutions in recent years. A 2015 Survey of Online Learning conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group concluded that the number of higher education students taking at least one distance education course increased by 3.9% since the previous year, especially at private non-profit institutions.
As schools and students embrace the idea of online learning, more and more employers are following suit; programs do not differentiate between degrees awarded by online accredited colleges and traditional campus universities. Just like degrees completed on campus, online programs offer access to the same high-quality instructors, resources, and course materials, but with the added convenience of flexible scheduling that allows students to meet their work and family obligations uninterrupted. Graduates of accredited online universities are eligible for the same top career opportunities and increased salaries as their campus counterparts, in any field or discipline.

What is Accreditation?

Educational accreditation is a form of quality assurance that evaluates services and operations provided by educational institutions. If the external accreditation agency is satisfied that the institution meets its stringent quality standards, the school will receive official accreditation. While there are various types of accreditation, the process of pursuing accreditation of any kind requires a serious commitment on the part of the institution; completing this lengthy and involved process ensures that a school is worthy of achieving the approval of a national or regional accrediting agency. Confirming that your school or program is properly accredited is crucial when researching your education options, and should be at the top of your list of important considerations.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGIONAL ACCREDITATION AND NATIONAL ACCREDITATION?

Any college or university worth its salt will be accredited by a national or regional agency. While it may seem confusing that a school can be deemed equally legitimate with either type of accreditation, this is simply because there are different governing agencies and several different types of accreditation; what is best-suited to one institution or program may not be right for another. That being said, regional accreditation is older, more stringent, and tends to be more respected, as the designation is awarded by only six regional bodies to schools within in a particular section of the U.S. Most nationally accredited institutions will accept credit from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, though regionally accredited schools often do not accept credit from nationally accredited institutions.

TYPES OF ACCREDITATION AGENCIES

Types of accreditation can apply to a whole institution (such as regional accreditation) or a specific degree program, department, or discipline. While institutional accreditation should be a given when researching any school, programmatic accreditation may be particularly important for certain fields of study. Read on for more information on all types of programs offered at accredited online colleges:
Institutional Accreditation
Accreditation for a school as a whole tells you that all departments at a school meet at least minimum standards for general education, and that the school has the necessary support services to help students succeed. Considerations include class sizes, number of qualified faculty, library resources, and organizational concerns. This designation does not confirm that a school offers a comprehensive education in a particular field, but instead assures potential students that the institution can meet their general needs.
Specialized/Program Accreditation
While entire institutions can earn regional or national accreditation to ensure that the school as a whole meets educational standards, specific departments and degree programs may also pursue specialized educational accreditation. Accreditation for a specific program is carried out by organizations that employ experts on the topic and look at the curriculum of the department or degree program, examining whether it keeps up with current developments in the field and make sure that, where necessary, the school has appropriate laboratory equipment or field experience opportunities.

WHO MONITORS ACCREDITING AGENCIES?

The Department of Education (DOE) is the arm of the federal government designated to oversee accreditation in the U.S. While the DOE itself does not award accreditation, it does authorize federally recognized accreditation agencies