If you are looking into an online college program, you have undoubtedly come across the term "accredited". It is of utmost importance to make sure that you are getting a degree from an accredited institution. This ensures that your program has been proven to be to the highest standard possible. What does accredited mean actually?
Accreditation is the process of validating different colleges and universities. The standards are set by a peer review board that is comprised of faculty from other accredited universities. They review items such as requirements for admissions, services, and quality of education. There are six agencies that deal with accreditation, each having their own region.
Online Education
Online schools are held to the same standards that a traditional school is held to. They go through the same accreditation procedures and review. If you are concerned about the accreditation of your specific school, then check out the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is similar to a watchdog for accrediting agencies.
One important thing to remember is that an accreditation agency can give their blessing to one program in a school but not the entire school. If you are getting an actual degree, it is best to make sure the entire school is properly accredited.
A degree from an accredited institution will be worth more when you enter the business world. Employers will likely recognize a degree from an accredited school. However, they will probably not look twice if your degree is not from an accredited institution. There are schools out there than are not accredited so do your diligence when selecting a school to attend.
Online Education Terms - What Does Accredited Mean?