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.”

Roseman University

Online

The USN accelerated online program offers accelerated nursing education that allows you to earn a BSN in just 14 months. This new program blends the personal convenience of online course study with enriching clinical learning in Henderson, Nevada.

Programs:

• Accelerated BSN

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

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
• MS in Nursing (RN Required)
• BS in Nursing (RN Required)

Campus Locations:

Los Angeles
Oakland
San Francisco
Sacramento
Diamond Bar
Rancho Cordova
Woodland Hills
Online
Costa Mesa
Pasadena
Fresno
Bakersfield
Fairfield
Lathrop
San Jose
Ontario
Roseville
Gardena
Salida
Livermore
Elk Grove
Lancaster
Murrieta
Palm Desert

Walden University

Online

Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.

Programs:

• B.S. in Nursing (BSN)
• Post-Masters Certificates in Nursing - Nursing Education
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) - General

University of St. Mary

Online

Give your career a boost with University of Saint Mary. We offer online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to help make your educational and professional goals a reality.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Kaplan College - KHE

Campus

Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan College can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Programs:

• Diploma: Vocational Nursing
• Diploma: Nurse Assistant Training Program
• Diploma: Patient Care Assistant/Technician

Campus Locations:

Vista
San Diego
Chula Vista
Bakersfield
Stockton

American Career College

Campus

American Career College (ACC) offers hands-on training that will prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry at three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County, California. ACC's programs combine classroom lectures and hands-on training to prepare students for a Diploma or Associate of Occupational Science degree.

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing
• Medical Assistant
• Associate of Occupational Science in Respiratory Therapy

Campus Locations:

Ontario
Anaheim
Los Angeles

California College San Diego

Campus

California College San Diego (CCSD) offers degree programs in Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, and Computer Science. Online programs are offered by our affiliated college, Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
• Master of Science in Nursing Education (Online)
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration

Campus Locations:

National City
San Marcos
San Diego

West Coast University

Campus

Achieve your educational and professional goals with help from West Coast University. We offer accelerated Health Care Administration degrees designed for working adults like you.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• LVN to BSN
• RN to BSN

Campus Locations:

Anaheim
Ontario

Career Colleges of America

Campus

Get your career started with Career Colleges of America. We have four campuses in the Los Angeles area offering a wide variety of allied health training programs.

Programs:

• Vocational Nurse
• Nurse Assistant
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

San Bernardino
Los Angeles
South Gate
Gardena

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Campus

Take the first step toward advancing your nursing career. Chamberlain College of Nursing offers a highly respected degree coupled with clinical learning experience in your local area.

Programs:

• Master of Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Campus Locations:

Addison

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 Registered Nursing
• AS in Vocational Nursing
• Certificate in Vocational Nursing

Campus Locations:

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

Santa Barbara Business College

Campus

California is home to beautiful landscapes, a diverse population and countless things to do. Santa Barbara Business College is a California technical school that helps people just like you learn skills for their career. After all, without a good career, it can be difficult to enjoy all the wonderful things California has to offer.

SBBCollege is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. For information on graduation rates, median debt of graduates who completed these programs and other important information, visit http://www.sbbcollege.edu/consumerinformation/disclosures.php. SBBCollege offers financial aid to those who qualify.

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing
• Medical Assisting Diploma
• Medical Assisting Associate

Campus Locations:

Rancho Mirage
Santa Maria
Santa Barbara
Ventura

Intercoast Colleges

Campus

Get your career started with Intercoast Colleges. We offer a number of certificate programs in a variety of fields, including medical, allied health, massage therapy, nursing, and electrical training.

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Fairfield
Elk Grove
West Covina
Orange

Grand Canyon University

Campus

Earn your degree online with Grand Canyon University. We offer approximately 100 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs that can be completed 100% online. Degree programs are available in the fields of education, nursing and health sciences, business, fine arts and production, and liberal arts.

Programs:

• M.S. in Nursing: Health Care Informatics (Bridge)
• M.S. in Nursing: Health Care Informatics
• M.S. in Nursing: Public Health (Bridge)

Campus Locations:

Phoenix

Charter College

Campus

You can prepare for a new career 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. We provide students not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find new opportunities after graduation.

Programs:

• Diploma - Vocational Nursing
• Diploma - Medical Assistant
• Certificate - Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Canyon Country
Long Beach
Oxnard
Lancaster

Institute of Technology

Campus

You can get started on a new career with Institute of Technology. We offer diploma and associate degree programs for careers in the culinary, technical, medical, business, and legal fields.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.it-colleges.edu/disclosure

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing-Diploma
• Medical Billing/Coding Specialist
• Professional Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Redding
Modesto
Clovis
Citrus Heights
Stockton

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

Campus Locations:

Colton
Anaheim

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
• Health Services Administration, AA (Online)

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

Saint Peter's College

Online

Saint Peter's College has prepared its students for academic excellence and professional success for over one hundred years. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to providing each student with the opportunity for educational and spiritual enrichment. That same commitment to individual support is now available to learners everywhere via the new online degree programs offered by the College.

Programs:

• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Stratford Career Institute

Online

Stratford Career Institute can help you earn your diploma from home in as little as six months, thanks to their proven study methods.

Programs:

• Health Care Aide
• Medical Office Assistant

Saint Xavier University

Campus

“Success with Purpose” is the hallmark of a Saint Xavier University education that is grounded in the tradition of liberal arts. SXU offers graduate and post-graduate programs that are recognized and respected by employers and delivered by professional faculty who are experts in their fields. Founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy, SXU is Chicago's oldest Catholic University, and it is recognized as one of the top 40 comprehensive master's universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges 2010.

Programs:

• MSN in Clinical Leadership
• MSN in Executive Leadership
• Nurse Educator Certificate

Campus Locations:

Chicago

Everest College

Campus

Develop the skills to succeed in today's highly competitive business environment. Everest College can prepare you for a rewarding career in some of today's hottest fields.

Programs:

• Diploma - Medical Assistant
• Medical General
• Diploma - Medical Administrative Assistant

Campus Locations:

Los Angeles
San Francisco
Torrance
LA Puente
Santa Ana
Gardena
San Jose
Hayward
Ontario
Alhambra
Reseda
San Bernardino
Anaheim

Platt College

Campus

Turn your talents into a career. Nationally recognized and accredited Platt College offers degree programs in Graphic Design, Multimedia, IT Networking and Paralegal.

Programs:

• Medical Assisting
• Respiratory Therapy Associate of Science
• Medical Administrative Specialist

Campus Locations:

Ontario
Riverside
Alhambra

Heald College

Campus

Heald College offers 18-month associate degree programs that will prepare you for a career in Business, Technology, or Healthcare. Small class sizes, hands-on instruction.

Programs:

• Medical Assisting
• Medical Office Administration

Campus Locations:

Salida
Roseville
Stockton
Salinas
San Francisco
Hayward
Milpitas
Fresno
Concord
Rancho Cordova

CBD College

Campus

Get career training with CBD College. We offer an associate degree in vocational nursing, plus diploma programs for careers in the fields of medical massage therapy/physical therapy, pharmacy tech, surgical technology, and vocational nursing.

Programs:

• Associate of Applied Sciences in Vocational Nursing
• Vocational Nursing

Campus Locations:

Los Angeles

UEI College

Campus

UEI College can give you the real world medical, business, and technology skills you need to start a rewarding career. Let us know how we can assist you with your personal growth by helping you train for your perfect career.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Bakersfield
Fresno
Riverside
Gardena
Stockton

Milan Institute

Campus

Successful careers begin at the Milan Institute. We offer quality hands-on training, experienced faculty and a staff committed to helping you realize your goals.

Programs:

• Medical Assisting
• Administrative Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Indio
Visalia
Clovis
Bakersfield

Empire College

Campus

Empire College, located in Santa Rosa, California, can give you the career training you need to launch or advance your career in the Business, Law, Technology, or Medical fields.

Programs:

• Medical Assisting

Campus Locations:

Santa Rosa

WyoTech

Campus

The career-focused programs at WyoTech can give you the hands-on training you need to succeed. Program areas includemechanics, technician training, and technology.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant
• Medical General

Campus Locations:

Long Beach

Mayfield College

Campus

Give your career a boost with an education from Mayfield College. Our academic programs include medical front office, computer support technician, and general office management.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Cathedral City