College Accreditation Facts For Online Learners

The best way to ensure the degree you earn has value is by earning a degree from a college or university having accreditation which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

We`re going to explain why accreditation matters and help you protect the value of your degree by showing you how to find accredited online schools as well as how to protect yourself from phony ones. Let`s get started...

What is accreditation?

The U.S. Government does not regulate, operate, or charter educational institutions, and therefore standards and quality of academic programs can vary considerably. Accreditation is a voluntary process by which the academic quality and services offered by the institution seeking accreditation are measured against strict standards established by private, nongovernmental accrediting agencies, and accreditation or pre-accreditation status is either awarded or denied.

Accreditation reflects the fact that in achieving recognition by the accrediting agency, the institution or program is committed to self-study and external review by one`s peers in seeking not only to meet standards but to continuously seek ways in which to enhance the quality of education and training provided.

Accrediting agencies evaluate whether the institution seeking accreditation status meets established standards of quality for a variety of differing factors, including but not limited to:

1. The caliber of faculty and education available
2. The quality of the school`s library
3. Student admission requirements and support services
4. The school`s objectives, goals, and mission
5. The school`s resources and how they are allocated
6. The financial stability of the school

Institutions meeting these standards and others as determined by the accrediting agency are granted accreditation. Accrediting agencies then conduct periodic reviews of the schools they accredit to ensure they remain worthy of continued accreditation.

There are few laws that govern the establishment of accrediting agencies, so it is not unheard of for a bogus school to claim to be "accredited". Therefore, online students need to ascertain whether or not the school they plan to attend has received accreditation from an agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. We`ll explain the importance of that a bit later when we discuss why accreditation matters, but for now let`s continue learning more about accreditation.

In the U.S., colleges and universities are accredited by one of 19 recognized institutional accrediting organizations. Programs are accredited by one of approximately 60 recognized programmatic accrediting organizations. [Accrediting organizations that are “recognized” have been reviewed for quality by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE)

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, (CHEA), is a private, nonprofit national organization that coordinates accreditation activity in the United States. They serve as the primary national voice for voluntary accreditation and quality assurance to the U.S. Congress and U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Secretary of Education publish`s a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies that the Secretary determines to be reliable authorities as to the quality of education or training provided by the institutions of higher education and the higher education programs they accredit. The primary purpose of USDE recognition is to assure that federal student aid funds are purchasing quality courses and programs.

Why does accreditation matter?

1. Federal Financial Aid Eligibility: The federal government requires that an institution be accredited or granted preaccredited status by a nationally recognized accrediting organization in order for its students to be eligible to participate in Federal student financial assistance programs or veteran`s benefits.

2. Quality Assurance: Accreditation by recognized accrediting agencies assure prospective students and employers that an institution or program meets established standards.

3. Tuition Assistance Plans: Many employers that offer tuition assistance benefits to employees require that eligible courses be accredited in order to qualify for plan benefits.

4. Ability to Transfer Credits: Accreditation helps determine the acceptability of transfer credits. College Credit received from unaccredited schools may not be recognized or valued by the school you would like to transfer to.

5. Ability to Attend Grad School: If your undergraduate degree was earned at an unaccredited institution you run the risk that the graduate school you would like to attend won`t recognize your degree.

6. Professional Licensure: Certain professions such as medicine, nursing, law, and engineering, require licensure in order to practice. Most license granting authorities require the applicant to have graduated from an accredited school or program in order to be eligible take licensing exams or become licensed.

7. Employment Eligibility: Most private employers, public school systems, and government agencies require job applicants to have degrees from accredited institutions in order to be eligible for employment or advancement.

Is the school I`m interested in accredited?

Lack of accreditation does not necessarily mean that a college, university, or program lacks merit since the initial accreditation process is costly, (sometimes costing as much as $100,000), and can take as long as ten years. Distance learners must know how to distinguish an accredited school from one isn`t in order to protect themselves from degree mills, accreditation mills, and other scams that proliferate online. Legitimate institutions of higher education are proud of their accreditation status and list it along with the name of the list the accrediting agency that granted it in a prominent place on their web site and publications.

RNDegrees.net carefully screens our education partners to ensure that the college and university programs we feature have accreditation which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Is the accreditation legitimate?

Any institution can claim to be "accredited", but not all accreditation has value. Degree Mills, (also called Diploma Mills), frequently circumvent the accreditation process and make themselves appear to be legitimate by calling themselves accredited when in fact the "accrediting agency" granting "accreditation" to the phony school is either nonexistent or an impressive sounding invention of the "school" itself. It is vitally important that online students be able to know that the accrediting agency which granted accreditation to the online school you are considering attending is legitimate and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

The following regional accrediting agencies are currently recognized by the U.S. Department of Education:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
• Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities

There are also many other national, professional and specialized accrediting bodies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Start by checking your prospective school through the U.S. Department of Education`s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs accredited by an accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

Then be sure to check the CHEA Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations, which contains information about more than 7,000 institutions and 17,000 programs in the U.S.

Some accrediting organizations and their institutions and programs appear in both the CHEA database and the USDE database. Others may appear in one but not both. Whether in the CHEA or USDE database, accrediting organizations identified in the database have been “recognized.”

The College Network

Online

Start your nursing career with The College Network. Earn your NLNAC/CCNE Accredited nursing degree online from one of our partner universities: Regis University, Indiana State University, Angelo State University and more at 1/2 the cost and time of traditional universities with no campus attendance, no wait list and local clinicals.

Programs:

• LPN/LVN to RN - BS in Nursing - Indiana St. - (Licensed LPN/LVNs only)
• Paramedic to RN
• LPN/LVN to RN - AS in Nursing (Licensed LPN/LVNs only)

University of Phoenix

Campus

As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.

Programs:

• M.S. in Nursing
• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
• BS in Nursing (RN Required)

Campus Locations:

Maitland
Temple Terrace
Manassas
Ontario
Online
Tucson
Palm Beach Gardens
Baton Rouge
Chandler
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Rancho Cordova
Plantation
Miami
Hurst
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Troy
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Houston
Reston
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Murrieta
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Westlake
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Spring
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Henderson
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Beachwood
Hollywood
St. Louis
Roseville
Pasadena
Dallas
Fairfax
Oakland
Southfield
Portage
Palm Desert

CollegeAmerica

Campus

Finally, a college that delivers. CollegeAmerica is truly unique in that their curriculum is designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to prepare students for success.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
• Associate Degree in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online)

Campus Locations:

Flagstaff
Denver
Fort Collins
Colorado Springs
Phoenix
Cheyenne

Dover Business College

Campus

Launch a business, healthcare, or technology career with Dover Business College. Train with the most current technology programs at one of our two (Dover and Paramus, New Jersey) campuses.

Programs:

• LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)
• Patient Care Technician
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Clifton
Dover

Keiser University

Campus

Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.

Programs:

• Nursing, MS
• Medical Assisting, AS

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

Keiser University Campus

Campus

Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.

Programs:

• Nursing, BS (Online Only)
• Nursing, AS
• Nursing, MS (Online Only)

Campus Locations:

Tallahassee
Orlando
Fort Lauderdale
Melbourne
Port Saint Lucie
Lakeland
Sarasota
Jacksonville
Fort Myers
Tampa
Daytona Beach
Hollywood
West Palm Beach

Stevens-Henager

Campus

For more than 119 years, Stevens-Henager College has worked to train generations of graduates for new careers. Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Our degree programs, designed to help graduates compete in the ever-evolving employment market, include Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Surgical Technology, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, Computer Science, and Graphic Arts*. Online programs are offered via Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray. Stevens-Henager College Idaho Falls is a branch campus of the CollegeAmerica, Flagstaff, AZ, main campus.

*Check each campus for program availability.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing
• Associate Degree in Nursing Education
• Master of Science in Nursing Administration

Campus Locations:

Ogden
Boise
Layton
Orem
Idaho Falls
Saint George
Lehi
Logan
Murray
Nampa

Carrington College California

Campus

Carrington College California offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services.

Programs:

• AS in Vocational Nursing
• Certificate in Vocational Nursing
• AS in Medical Assisting

Campus Locations:

Antioch
Pomona
San Leandro
Citrus Heights
Emeryville
San Jose
Stockton
Pleasant Hill
Sacramento

Sanford-Brown Institute

Campus

Get everything you need for the medical career you want. Sanford-Brown Institute's advanced programs allow you to complete your certificate or degree program in as little as 9 months. Learn more today.

Programs:

• Nursing
• Medical Assistant
• Medical Assistant Specialist

Campus Locations:

Melville
Austin
Orlando
Monroeville

Colorado Christian University

Campus

With a heritage dating back to 1914, Colorado Christian University is committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually. As the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities located in the mainline Rocky Mountains region, and just a few minutes from downtown Denver, CCU is uniquely positioned to offer students a distinctive variety of educational opportunities and experiences. CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and in the world. CCU students are enrolled at the main campus near Denver and at satellite locations throughout Colorado.

Programs:

• Nursing: B.S. Nursing (BSN)
• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Locations:

Grand Junction
Colorado Springs
Denver
Sterling
Englewood

Charter College

Campus

Prepare for a better career and a brighter future with help from Charter College. Our accelerated Bachelors Degree, Associates Degree, and Certificate programs are designed to help you complete your education as quickly as possible. We offer year-round classes and flexible scheduling - study anytime from anywhere. Our small class sizes and dedicated instructors ensure a personalized education experience. We provide students not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find the job that's right for you after graduation.

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Canyon Country
Lancaster
Oxnard
Vancouver
Bellingham
Wasilla
Anchorage

Summit College

Campus

Get your career started with an education from Summit College. We offer programs in legal office assisting, licensed vocational nursing, office administration, administrative and clinical medical assisting, medical billing and coding, dental assisting, and accounting assisting.

Programs:

• Licensed Vocational Nurse
• Certified Nursing Assistant

Campus Locations:

Colton
Anaheim

Keiser University Graduate School

Campus

Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.

Programs:

• Nursing, MS (Online)

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

Lincoln Technical Institute

Campus

Lincoln Technical Institute provides career-focused, hands-on training programs with industry experienced instructors. Get the skills for a rewarding in-demand career.

For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo

Programs:

• Nursing
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Hamden
Edison
Casselberry
Mount Laurel
Shelton
Paramus
Somerville
Allentown
Lincoln
Lowell
Philadelphia
Saint Petersburg
Brockton

Medtech

Campus

Start your career with an education from Medtech. We offer programs in biotechnology, health care management, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, medical lab technology, and nursing, plus several short-term career courses.

Programs:

• School of Nursing
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Fort Wayne