Is Accreditation Really A Big Deal?
Students considering colleges, career schools and online degree programs are often confused by the concept and meaning of accreditation. And, they frequently confuse it with state licensure, which is very different.
To be accredited, a school, traditional college, or online college has to meet fairly rigorous standards of quality. State licensure, on the other hand, generally requires an institution to meet only the most minimal standards. Thus, a warning flag should be raised when a college emphasizes licensure in lieu of regional accreditation.
Students should be aware that a number of higher education institutions, particularly those engaged in offering online degrees and distance education programs, report that they are accredited by organizations which are not approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Whether these organizations are staffed by scam artists or well meaning educators, the so-called accreditation they offer is, practically speaking, entirely worthless in the eyes of most employers and accredited colleges.
For example, in their help wanted announcements, schools, colleges, and universities virtually always require that applicants hold degrees from institutions accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized agencies.
Accredited colleges and universities will almost never accept transfer credit for courses completed at unaccredited colleges or colleges. And, they do not differentiate between colleges with no accreditation at all and those with so-called accreditation offered by unrecognized agencies.
Of course, students who want a degree only for personal satisfaction may initially not think accreditation is of much importance. But, if they reconsider, even those students should want to earn a degree that is viewed as a valuable credential; a degree that demonstrates that they have completed a rigorous academic program; a degree from a college or university that has proven that it meets the highest educational standards. That is why students should always find out which agency accredits a college they are considering, and go to the U.S. Department of Education website to be sure that the agency is government recognized.
Nobody can promise that, just because it's accredited, you'll be happy at an individual college or university. But accreditation does virtually guarantee you the advantages of qualified instructors and a well conceived curriculum. And, it means that employers are likely to recognize your degree as a meaningful credential which demonstrates motivation and expertise.
To be accredited, a school, traditional college, or online college has to meet fairly rigorous standards of quality. State licensure, on the other hand, generally requires an institution to meet only the most minimal standards. Thus, a warning flag should be raised when a college emphasizes licensure in lieu of regional accreditation.
Students should be aware that a number of higher education institutions, particularly those engaged in offering online degrees and distance education programs, report that they are accredited by organizations which are not approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Whether these organizations are staffed by scam artists or well meaning educators, the so-called accreditation they offer is, practically speaking, entirely worthless in the eyes of most employers and accredited colleges.
For example, in their help wanted announcements, schools, colleges, and universities virtually always require that applicants hold degrees from institutions accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized agencies.
Accredited colleges and universities will almost never accept transfer credit for courses completed at unaccredited colleges or colleges. And, they do not differentiate between colleges with no accreditation at all and those with so-called accreditation offered by unrecognized agencies.
Of course, students who want a degree only for personal satisfaction may initially not think accreditation is of much importance. But, if they reconsider, even those students should want to earn a degree that is viewed as a valuable credential; a degree that demonstrates that they have completed a rigorous academic program; a degree from a college or university that has proven that it meets the highest educational standards. That is why students should always find out which agency accredits a college they are considering, and go to the U.S. Department of Education website to be sure that the agency is government recognized.
Nobody can promise that, just because it's accredited, you'll be happy at an individual college or university. But accreditation does virtually guarantee you the advantages of qualified instructors and a well conceived curriculum. And, it means that employers are likely to recognize your degree as a meaningful credential which demonstrates motivation and expertise.
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