Accreditation Explained & The Importance of Accreditation
What is accreditation? Why is it important to selecting an online degree program? Accreditation agencies are designed to review and approve a school’s academic programs. There are large accreditation agencies, such as the Six Regional Accreditation Agencies; and small, focused accreditation agencies, such as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. These accreditation agencies look at both campus-based and online colleges and universities to verify their degree programs are legit and ensure students are not scammed by a degree mill.
What Makes an Accreditation Agency’s Opinion so Valuable?
Accreditation agencies determine whether units and degree programs are transferable or not. Students that attend a school accredited by the one of the Six Regional Accreditation Agencies—the accreditation agencies that look at government-run state schools as well as a wide array of private schools—are guaranteed unit transferability to another school that falls within that accreditation standard. Similarly, a student that earns a Bachelor Degree from an accredited college or university has a much higher likelihood for being accepted into a graduate program than a student that earned their Bachelor Degree from a school without accreditation. Accreditation agencies are verified for their own authenticity by the U.S. Department of Education and other accreditation boards (accrediting the accredited.) This ensures that smaller accreditation agencies are held to the same standards as the larger ones, and thus hold all colleges and universities to the same standard as the effect trickles down.
How Do I Check a College or University’s Accreditation?
Most colleges openly display accreditation on their website. Accreditation is publically displayed at colleges and universities, just like how doctors publically display their degree in medicine. If there are difficulties with finding the school’s accreditation, first try simply searching “accreditation” in their website’s search box. If nothing comes up, give the school a call and ask about the accreditation agency the school’s received a review through. Many schools will list off multiple accreditation agencies.
If a School Lacks Accreditation, Does That Mean It Is a Degree Mill?
Yes and no. Newer schools may be perfectly creditable and are just in the middle of the accreditation process; accreditation may take several years. Smaller, specialized school may also rely on student opinion over accreditation. If a school lacks accreditation, at the very least, expect not to have unit transferability. Worst case scenario is that the school is a degree mill, and prospective students should be aware of this and take precaution.
Is Accreditation National or Global?
This depends on the accreditation agency. There are national accreditation agencies that recognize schools throughout the United States; and there are accreditation agencies that recognize colleges and universities throughout the world, such as the Six Regional Accreditation Agencies.
Is One Form of Accreditation More Reputable Than Another?
Yes and no. Since accreditation agencies have to be accredited themselves, they’re all held up to a high standard; this means that any form of accreditation is a good sign. Every once in awhile, a Degree Mill will try to cover up with phony accreditation, but this is easily checkable by simply visiting the accreditation agency’s website and checking for the thumbs-up from the USDE (or similar organization.) If you’re interested in unit transfer or continued higher education in the future, then the accreditation agency makes a big difference; you’ll probably only be able to transfer your degree program to other schools that fall within that accreditation’s family (two nationally accredited schools or two regionally accredited schools.) The general rule is that regional accreditation is more respected, but since national accreditation must follow the same principles, this is left open for debate.
Once a School is Accredited, Does the Agency Continue to Review Them?
Yes, but how often the school is reviewed depends on the initial accreditation awarded. Some schools have to renew every year, others five, and still others at a different variable. The idea of renewing accreditation is that the school will continue to hold high academic standard and even thrive for higher academic success in order to increase the amount of time needed for the next renewal. Take charge of the quality of education by reviewing the accreditation of schools today.