Maximize the Value of Your Online Degree

Many students are choosing to attend college online rather than in a traditional classroom setting. Distance learning provides a flexible class schedule for working adults, who often return to school to complete a degree. One of the most important considerations when choosing an online college or university is selecting an accredited program.

What is accreditation? Accreditation simply means that the school and its programs meet certain criteria set by an agency tasked with setting educational quality measures. The school voluntarily submits to critical review and inspection of its policies, finances, and academic standards. If the college meets the minimum criteria set by the accrediting agency, it can use the name of the accrediting agency in its materials. Accreditation is voluntary and schools can be turned down or put on probation if their standards fall short. There are two main types of accreditation: regional and national. Regional accrediting organizations began as associations of colleges in geographic regions. National accrediting bodies focus on types of schools rather than where they are located. Accrediting groups can also be specialized associations, such as the American Bar Association, which sets standards for law schools and paralegal training programs.

Why does accreditation matter? Everyone wants to get the greatest value for his or her financial investment, and school is certainly an investment. Accreditation is like a stamp of approval or a validation of a school's programs. The accreditation process is similar to a peer evaluation because it is usually performed by committees from other institutions. Academic standards, goals, ethical guidelines, grading policies, and teaching methods are reviewed. Accreditation is especially important to the distance learning institution for several reasons. Standards relating to classroom and course delivery, and faculty resources must be met. The online student must have the same educational opportunity as any student in a traditional classroom. This may mean that innovative teaching methods are used, and accreditation provides a way to ensure quality control. Distance learning is also a relatively new phenomenon in education, so it is important to make it an equal choice, not a second-rate choice for those seeking the convenience and accessibility distance learning provides.

Are accrediting organizations government agencies? No, regional and national accrediting bodies are private associations. However, the United States government requires measures of quality assurance to be present before a school can accept federal aid. Schools that are accredited are able to participate in Title IV Federal Student Aid programs if they choose. In the United States, there are six major regional accrediting bodies for institutions of higher learning: the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA), the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU). The Distance Education Training Council (DETC) is a respected national accrediting body specifically for distance learning programs. These agencies are recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is an organization that encourages voluntary standards and self-regulation for institutions of higher learning.

Does accreditation mean unconditional acceptance? There is no legal requirement for employers or other schools to accept the validity of a degree or transfer credits. Some careers require a college degree and many employers check on the credentials of their applicants. A "college degree" generally means that the degree came from an accredited university, not a diploma mill. Even though accreditation does not mean unconditional acceptance, it does set apart your degree as originating from a school with higher learning quality standards in place.

Why is accreditation important when considering transfer credits? A regionally accredited institution is not required to accept credits from a nationally accredited school, and vice versa. Some colleges that are regionally accredited do not recognize national accreditation, so if you are considering transferring from one school to another without the same type of accreditation, you may find that not all of your credits transfer. You may have to re-take some of your courses. This can be quite expensive, time consuming, and inconvenient to say the least. However, this issue is not unique to distance learning universities. When you apply to a school with transfer credits, your credits are analyzed and assessed for merit. It is up to your new college whether or not they accept your transfer credits, regardless of whether they come from a school in the next town, in another country, or accredited by another oversight organization. This is also the case when applying to graduate school; your credits will be reviewed and it is up the school if they accept your credits. It is always best to consider future goals when choosing a distance learning program and how transfer credits may be affected.

Are all online universities nationally accredited by the DETC? Not every online school is DETC-accredited.The DETC was founded in 1926 for the purpose of developing quality standards for correspondence schools. Its goal is to promote excellence in distance education and ensure that students receive a superior education at institutions that it approves for accreditation. To fall within DETC review, institutions must offer programs of study that have a distance component of 51% or above. The DETC does not accept applications from schools that award degrees beyond a master's degree. The review process is lengthy and intense. To get around the rigorous requirements set by the DETC, some online schools have created their own "accrediting agencies" in order to declare accreditation. You must be a wise consumer and carefully investigate claims of accreditation. Some of these "accrediting agencies" have official-sounding names, so do your homework!

How do I check on accreditation for a distance-learning program? CHEA, DETC, and the United States Department of Education maintain databases of accredited schools. The databases can be searched by school name, state, program, or category. If your selected online school is not listed, but the school website states that it is accredited, investigate the claim thoroughly. Call the school and ask for a statement of accreditation, and then look up the organization to see if it is regional or national, or neither.

Maximize the value of your online degree. Most people comparison shop for value; the larger the investment, the more research goes into learning about the product. However, many of us do not think about comparison shopping when we consider higher education because we assume all degrees are the same. This is certainly not the case! Distance learning has grown so fast in a few short years because it conveniently brings the school to the student, instead of the traditional method of bringing the student to the school. Fast growth in the industry should not mean compromises in quality of education. Accreditation is one indicator of value and worth because it requires institutions to meet standards and guidelines. It is important to have this quality assurance stamp of approval because your accredited online degree is one of the greatest investments you will ever make in yourself.

References:
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, www.chea.org
The Distance Education and Training Council, www.detc.org
The United States Department of Education, www.ed.gov