Articles

Understanding Accreditation When Looking For Online Degrees

2011-11-11

There are a lot of schools offering online MBAs or other online degrees, and while obtaining additional education is often a wise choice, it is important that those considering a return to school do their homework before they start an online program.

One of the cornerstones of any university, whether it is online or a brick-and-mortar school, is its accreditation. Accreditation not only speaks to the quality of instruction a prospective student might expect, but it is also a major factor when it comes to financial aid eligibility or whether or not an employer will take the online degrees seriously when it comes time for a job offer or promotion.

One important thing to understand about online degrees is that they do actually require work. While there are more and more legitimate programs for online MBAs and other degrees, there are still many "diploma mills" that will offer so-called "degrees" for a flat fee or that give large amounts of credit based on "life experience." More often than not, these schools are not accredited, and getting a "degree" from one is a waste of both time and money.

Most reputable schools that offer online degrees with national or regional accreditation should be recognized by the US Department of Education as well as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This information is normally easy to find and is definitely worth looking for. A school that makes research too difficult might have something to hide, and prospects may see the lack of transparency as a reason to look elsewhere, or at the very least, get an opinion from someone who doesn't work at the school.

Being accredited is not always enough. Some schools will list an accreditation by an agency that is not recognized by the Department of Education or CHEA. Just like there are diploma mills that will offer useless online MBAs or other online degrees, there are also fake accrediting agencies that don't carry any weight with the Department of Education or most employers. Even if an agency looks legitimate, it never hurts to double check to assure that quality is truly a priority.

While verifying accreditation and other credentials of an online university, its online degrees and online MBA programs may seem like a lot of work, but it is definitely worthwhile to take the time to assure that where you will be pursuing your education has all the attributes you need to pull your life and career forward. Knowing from the beginning that a school has a seal of approval will give a prospective student peace of mind as they move through their program and toward achieving their dream of a degree.