Accredited Degree Online

When choosing an online degree, it is well-worth your effort to choose one which is an accredited degree online. Find out more...

What is accredited training can be a tricky subject, especially in light of the importance of it to distance education and online degree programs. One of the first things to remember is that a school or college that is licensed is not necessarily accredited.

Licensure simply gives an institution the legal right to function (to offer online degrees and/or campus based programs). While there may be some standards required for educational licensure, they are generally pretty minimal. As a result, licensure should not be viewed as a guarantee of educational quality. In other words, be wary of schools, colleges or universities which talk about state licensure rather than accreditation.

Students should be aware that a number of higher education institutions, particularly those engaged in offering online degrees and distance education programs, may report that they are accredited. However, it is important to note that not all accreditations are approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Whether these organizations are staffed by well meaning educators or scam artists, the so-called accreditation they offer is, practically speaking, entirely worthless in the eyes of most employers and accredited colleges.

For example, in higher education institution's vacancy announcements, schools, colleges, and universities virtually always require that applicants hold degrees from institutions accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized agencies.

Accredited colleges and universities seldom accept transfer credit for courses completed at unaccredited colleges or colleges. And, they do not differentiate between colleges with no accreditation at all and those with so-called accreditation offered by unrecognized agencies.

Even if your current educational and career goals are such that accreditation is not a priority for you now, attending a college or university that is not fully accredited could turn out to be a big mistake for several reasons. An accredited school is much more likely to offer you a high quality accredited degree online program staffed by qualified faculty. And, if your situation or your goals change, a degree from an accredited college or university will give you far more options. Your safest bet is to check the educational institute against the U.S. Department of Education website's list of recognized accrediting agencies, and select only a college or university accredited by one or more of them.

Nobody can promise that, just because it's accredited, you'll be happy at an individual college or university. But accreditation does virtually guarantee you the advantages of qualified instructors and a well conceived curriculum because of the requirements of the accreditation process. Also, it means that employers are likely to recognize your degree as a meaningful credential which demonstrates motivation and expertise.