| In choosing an online college where you can further | | | | that are not in any way related to the government but |
| your college studies and eventually earn a college | | | | are, rather, private institutions. There are national |
| degree, it is very important to understand the | | | | agencies that measure the course programs against |
| accreditation processes that are employed to deem | | | | national educational standards, while there are regional |
| colleges and universities accredited sources of online | | | | accrediting agencies that assess the programs against |
| college education. | | | | regional college program standards. |
| What is Accreditation? | | | | Why is Accreditation Important? |
| Accreditation is a validation process employed by | | | | Knowing the accreditation status of your chosen |
| associations and institutions of higher learning that | | | | school and online college degree program is important |
| checks and evaluates the efficiency of college | | | | since it presents the value of the degree that you are |
| programs against established standards to ensure a | | | | intending to pursue and pay for. Obtaining an online |
| high level of educational quality. This may be done by a | | | | college degree from non-accredited educational |
| formal and extensive review of course descriptions | | | | institutions may be futile later on since it may not be |
| and offerings by faculty members from accredited | | | | recognized by employers, or the credits earned may |
| institutions. | | | | not be transferable to other schools or universities. |
| Primary evaluation of the schools'/programs' | | | | The term "accredited" is used quite loosely by a lot of |
| objectives, goals, missions, resources, student | | | | institutions and must not be mistaken for being |
| admission, program requirements, support services, and | | | | "chartered," "licensed," "registered," or "pursuing |
| faculty efficiency and credibility are of foremost | | | | accreditation." It is best to review the qualifications of |
| consideration by the accrediting board. Accreditation | | | | the accrediting agencies that have evaluated the |
| boards differ across countries; some countries employ | | | | institution. Likewise the accrediting agencies must be |
| government-run accreditation agencies while others, | | | | checked regarding reputation and credibility against the |
| such as the United States, have accrediting agencies | | | | list of national and regional accrediting agencies. |