How to Choose an Accredited Online College?
How to Choose an Accredited Online College?
Step 1: Check the Accreditation Status
Accreditation verifies the legitimacy and quality of colleges, universities, and their degree programs. A school's accreditation status should be a top priority for any student applying to college because it can have a major impact on the ability to apply for financial aid or transfer credits. This information is available on each school's official website. Students can also verify a school's status through the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education (CHEA). Both maintain lists of recognized regional, national, and programmatic accrediting agencies.
WHY DOES ACCREDITATION MATTER?
Accreditation matters because it sets quality standards meant to ensure that your degree holds value. Employers and graduate schools know that if you hold a degree from an accredited online school, then you graduated from a program that meets the rigorous requirements for accreditation. In contrast, an unaccredited degree can cost you more than job offers. Graduates of diploma mills risk leaving school with debt and nothing to show for it but a degree that isn't recognized by employers, graduate schools, or professional certifying agencies. Always verify that an online college is accredited.
NATIONAL VERSUS REGIONAL ACCREDITATION
Colleges are accredited by either national or regional agencies. Regionally accredited colleges are typically nonprofit and state-operated. Most nationally accredited colleges are for-profit and often have to meet lower academic standards than their regional counterparts. Students considering a nationally accredited online college should research that school's reputation and to understand how academic standards differ from regionally accredited schools.
Students should also be wary of accreditation mills that offer genuine-looking but ultimately phony endorsements to schools. In the U.S., there are seven regional accrediting agencies that evaluate two-year and four-year colleges. Some states also have their own accrediting bodies independent of the regional agencies. You can learn more about each individual agency, and its jurisdiction, through the Office of Postsecondary Education.
It's also important to note that most nationally accredited schools will accept transfer credits from regionally accredited colleges and universities, but the opposite is not always true.
PROGRAMMATIC ACCREDITATION
In some cases, individual programs may also be accredited by an independent board. One example is the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, which evaluates academic programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. These agencies assess the competence of both on-campus and online degree programs giving students the peace of mind that their school's department offers a reputable program. Some state-level professional certifications require that students graduate from a program with programmatic accreditation.
After confirming accreditation, it can still be difficult to weigh the value and quality of one online college over another. It's good to keep in mind that regardless of whether a program is offered online or on campus, all regionally accredited programs in the U.S. are held to the same academic and professional standards. These standards also extend to the full-time faculty and adjunct professors that schools hire. Any online school that fails to meet program and faculty quality requirements risks losing accreditation.
Due to the rapid evolution of online coursework, online programs are quickly becoming some of the most high-quality degree options available. To date, well over 2,000 colleges offer accredited online programs. While our list of the best online colleges and universities is a good starting point for researching programs, we've outlined additional steps you can take to narrow your list of potential schools.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE BEST ONLINE COLLEGE FOR YOU?
In the world of online education, there is no overall best online college or online degree program. But there is a best option for you - you just have to know what questions to ask. Ask yourself these five questions to begin the search for the best online colleges and universities for you:
What do you want to do with your degree?
What degree level do you want to earn?
What majors will help you achieve your career goals?
How much flexibility do you need?
How much can you afford to spend on an online degree program?
The rapid growth in online colleges and universities means that you have more choices than ever before - and therefore you have to think even more carefully about which online school is right for you. If you know exactly what you want out of a particular degree, then you can make educated choices about which schools and programs will give you an acceptable return on investment.
KNOW YOUR CAREER GOALS
A college degree is the best way to increase your earning potential - but different careers require different degrees. Think specifically about the types of job titles you hope to be eligible for after you graduate and the types of employers you want to work for. Research the kinds of skills and degrees people at those jobs have, and use that research to narrow down the degree programs you are considering.
Step 2: Pick a Degree Level
There are a few considerations to make before choosing a degree level to pursue. One, what level of education have you achieved already? Two, what are your career goals? There are many online bachelor's degrees out there, but depending on your career aspirations you may also want to consider online associate degrees and online master's degrees. The following list can help you better understand these options:
Online Associate Degree
Full-time students can typically earn an associate degree in two years. An online associate degree is ideal for those who have a high school diploma and who want to quickly gain practical career skills. Associate degrees are less expensive than a bachelor's degree, and many online community colleges offer programs that open the door to vocational and administrative support positions such as legal assistant, medical assistant, and medical biller and coder. An online associate degree program is also a cost-effective way to complete general education requirements before transferring to a four-year program.
Learn more about how to choose an online associate degree below.
Online Bachelor's Degree
Most full-time students can earn a online bachelor's degree in four years. If you have a high school diploma or some college credits to your name, an online bachelor's program may be the right choice for you. Some colleges even offer degree completion programs specifically for students who have earned an associate degree and would like to finish a bachelor's program. A bachelor's degree is perhaps the single best way to increase your earning potential. According to PayScale.com, employes with a bachelor's degree can earn over $1,000,000 more over a 20-year career than someone with just a high school diploma. Most entry-level positions at professional organizations require at least a four-year degree. Business, healthcare, tech and other sectors prefer to hire candidates who are well-rounded and have good critical thinking and communication skills. An online bachelor's degree provides students with all of these skills, making them desirable to employers.
Learn more about how to choose an online bachelor's degree below.
Online Master's Degree
Most online master's programs can be completed in less than three years of full-time study. Many schools offer accelerated online programs, allowing you to complete your graduate degree in just 12 months. You should consider pursuing a graduate degree if you already have a bachelor's degree but want to switch careers, qualify for more advanced leadership roles, or increase your earning potential. Some fields require a master's degree and the completion of professional licensure and certification. Example careers include licensed counselors, social workers, and certified public health employees.
Step 3: Choose a Major
Once you know what degree level you want to pursue, think carefully about what majors will have the biggest impact on your current career or future job prospects. Different majors teach different skills and have different points of emphasis. Multiple studies have shown that what you study has a bigger impact on future earning potential than where you go to school.
Examine the different majors offered by a variety of top online colleges that relate to the field of study you are interested in. Research what specific courses are required in each major. Also consider what specific hard and soft skills will be most valuable to the work you want to be doing. You can explore our collection of academic program rankings to learn more about other fields of study and potential career paths.
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