Best Technical Schools: How to Find Accredited Technical Programs

At colleges and universities, the school of applied sciences offers technical degree programs. These types of degrees differ from other degrees in several ways. Technical programs often lead to a certificate, associate degree, bachelor's degree or master's degree. Depending on the school, technical programs may lead to a certificate in automotive repair or ultrasound technology or a bachelor's degree in engineering or information technology. Technical schools typically prepare students for work in the field through a combination of coursework and hands-on training. Some of the nation's best technical schools also have a 90 percent plus placement rate.

To locate the best technical schools, you can begin your search online. College ranking websites such as Princetonreview.com college rankings or U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2010 are a great start. Both sites list hundreds top technical schools along with rankings, tuition rates, and links to official websites. You can also use Google, Yahoo! or Bing or search college directory websites such as Best-Technical-Schools.com.

The best technical schools are accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized agencies. Just a few recognized accrediting agencies include:

-Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (regional)

-New England Association of Schools and Colleges (regional)

-North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (regional)

-Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (regional)

-Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (regional)

-The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

-The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

-The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)

-Western Association of Schools and Colleges (regional)

The agencies listed here are not the only recognized accrediting agencies. So please visit the U.S. Department of Education website at www.ed.gov for an official list. Continue reading to find out which top U.S. technical schools made the list of World's Best Technical Schools by U.S. News & World Report.

World's Best Technical Schools-Programs (U.S.)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (#1)

University of California, Berkeley (#2)

Stanford University (#3)

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (#5)

Carnegie Mellon University (#9)

Georgia Institute of Technology (#12)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (#18)

Harvard University (#22)

Princeton University (#23)

Cornell University (#24)

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (#25)

University of Texas at Austin (#36)

Purdue University (#37)

University of Michigan (#41)

University of California, San Diego (#43)

Resources:

For more information on the best technical schools, including curriculum and program info for technical programs, visit best-technical-schools.com.

For information about technical schools, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/.