All About Accreditation

Choosing which school to attend or which program to follow can be a seemingly overwhelming task. But have no fear, because the Online College Adviser is here to help.

I listed many points to consider in my previous post, Back to College: First Steps. However here are some other points to ponder as you really pick up the pace in your quest for the perfect program. As you choose, you should consider the school’s and/or program’s accreditation, reputation, accessibility, availability of federally funded Financial Aid (student loans and grants), and of course, personal fit.

This post will focus on accreditation at both the regional and national levels. In addition, specialized program accreditation will also be briefly discussed.

Accreditation: An Overview
Because I’m trying to simplify the process, let me just say that there are different types of accreditation when it comes to colleges and universities. Accreditation refers to whether or not the school has demonstrated that it meets certain professional critera and educational standards. So, if a school is accredited, then it means that that institution has earned the right to bear the “stamp of approval” of the accrediting agency.

Many schools claim to be accredited, and in fact, many are accredited, but the type of accreditation varies. For people who plan to attend one school and then transfer to another school, the safest and most highly trusted accreditation agencies are regional rather than national. This goes contrary to what most people might expect. They assume that a nationally accredited school is more reliable than a regionally accredited one. When it comes to colleges and universities in the United States, this is simply not the case.

Regional Accreditation
The following agencies offer regional accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities, including online programs, and schools with this type of accreditation can be chosen with confidence. (Please note that it is especially important with online programs to find out which region the school is affiliated with in order to check its accreditation.) Here are the six different regional accrediting bodies in the United States:

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) which includes California and Hawaii, as well as the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Marshall Islands, and other locations within the Pacific Basin.

Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU) which includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA) which includes Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, the Navajo Nation, Nebraska, New Mexico, the North and South Dakotas, Ohio, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA) which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Central America, parts of Europe, and parts of the Middle East.

Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SASC) which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, the North and South Carolinas, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Latin America.

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Africa, Asia, parts of Europe, and parts of the Middle East.

Each of these regional associations recognizes the courses and credit hours earned at each other’s schools, and so it becomes much easier to transfer your credits or courses from one to the other. Transferring is a tricky process that is best covered in a post of its own, but for now just be aware that courses taken at regionally accredited schools are much more likely to be accepted by employers and other schools if you end up having to transfer.

National accreditation is the other primary type of accreditation worth mentioning.

National Accreditation
National accrediting agencies will look at schools and programs across the country. Some examples of national accrediting agencies include the Distance Education Training Council (DETA), Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), and Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). These are legitimate accrediting agencies recognized by the U. S. Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). (For a complete list of all accrediting agencies, please visit the CHEA.org website.)

It is important to keep in mind that national accrediting agencies cover a much broader scope in terms of types of schools and programs. For example a lot of the technical or vocational colleges fall under this umbrella. These are targeted programs that are designed to train people within a relatively short amount of time to be able to go into the work force and do something specific. Some examples include medical transcriptionist, medical or dental assistant, legal assistant, computer-aided drafter, etc. Depending on your goals, these types of schools may be sufficient for you to get some training and get a better job. Just keep in mind that these types of programs are very narrow in their focus, so they will not likely be accepted at regionally accredited colleges or universities if you decide to pursue a more traditional college degree in the future.

Also, you will find in the national category many religious-based schools like bible colleges or divinity schools. These schools also serve a specific purpose and are based on certain faith-based philosophies which their founders are unwilling to compromise. In such cases, these types of schools may not seek regional accreditation because they may be forced to alter what or how they teach to comply with certain standards or guidelines. So, these types of schools are less likely to be regionally accredited.

Please understand that many programs, regardless of their type of accreditation may have merit and value. Just realize that accreditation has an effect on how you may be able to use those courses in the future, especially if you plan to transfer to another school or pursue another degree in the future. This holds true whether the credits are earned at a traditional brick-and-mortar school or an online college or university.

Specialized program accreditation
These types of accreditation are in relation to certain fields and indicate that a particular program meets certain criteria and standards. For example, when choosing a nursing program, it makes sense to choose one that has received the “stamp of approval” from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). For business programs, look for accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Other examples would include medical programs endorsed by the American Medical Association (AMA), dental programs certified by the American Dental Association (ADA), or law programs approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). You get the picture, right? Many professional fields have at least one major organization which oversees the training and education of professionals in that field. Do your research to find out what that organization is and make sure that your program is up to par.

The next important points to consider as you choose your college or program include reputation of the college or university, accessibility in terms of your current schedule, availability of federally funded Financial Aid (student loans and grants), and of course, personal fit. I hope to get through all of those topics in my next post, so come back soon for this vital information.

The Online College Adviser is always on the lookout for good resources about going back to school. If you have found something that is particularly helpful, please leave a comment and let me know. I have compiled a great list of resources at the Online College Adviser’s website, so if you’re not sure where to start, you can’t go wrong here.

Onward and upward!

Check out my next post: Tips for Choosing a School

Back to College: First Steps

The Online College Adviser is back with some first steps to consider when heading back to school. However, before we begin, I'd like to share something with you. One of my favorite quotes to think about when starting something new is this:

If you're not sure where you're going,
how will you know when you've arrived?

This is especially important as you move toward the completion of your college degree. Going back to school involves doing quite a bit of thinking about where you are right now in your life and where you hope to be in the future. Here are some suggestions for how to start that process. First of all, consider the following questions:

1. What kind of job/career are you aiming for? How important is salary? job stability? job availability? flexibility? When you start to do research, you need to keep in mind what you need and what you are willing to sacrifice. When exploring career options, tools like Monster.com’s Education and Career Advice services can provide current information about today's job market. Whether you choose to stay in your current field or branch out into a new field, make sure that you do your research. Talk to people who are currently in the field. Ask them what they like about the field and what they don’t like. Most importantly, ask them about opportunities for advancement and what kind of training or education is usually expected and/or required.

2. What kind of degree/training do you need in order to meet the industry requirements for that job/career? Again, talking to people in the field is a great way to start gathering information. You can also go online to websites such as Salary.com and see how your experience and educational background compare with current market standards. Most people find that some type of degree is required or highly recommended in order to get jobs higher than entry level. In certain fields, a degree is often required even at the entry level. So make sure to spend enough time doing your career research before you actually start looking at programs or schools.

3. How soon do you need your degree? Some schools specialize in accelerated degree programs and offer degrees or training in as little as 3 months. Too good to be true? Some of the offers are (a topic which I will cover in another post), but the good news is that some programs can actually deliver legitimate degrees in relatively short periods of time. Many of these involve taking and passing numerous tests in order to satisfy certain degree requirements. Schools like Excelsior College will allow large numbers of courses to be “covered” in that way. These tests are basically like comprehensive final exams, and as long as you pass the tests, you are demonstrating that you have the knowledge which those courses are designed to cover. Another common way to get a degree faster is by choosing a school which offers accelerated courses. A whole course may be delivered in a few weeks, a system which presents tremendous amounts of information in a short time, but allows students to focus on only one course at a time. Be aware that these types of options exist, and make sure to ask about them.

4. Do you have any work training certificates or transfer credits which may apply? This goes hand in hand with point #3. One of the best ways to “speed up” your degree is to take full advantage of what you have already done before and try to get credit for that. For example, if you have taken training courses (such as continuing education units), or if you hold industry licenses, some schools may be willing to give you some academic credit for them. This also holds true for military training. And of course, if you have taken courses at a community college or trade school, it makes sense to find out if any of those courses will transfer. I’ll talk more about tips for transferring in another post, but for now make a mental note to find out about the possibility of transfer credits or work-based training credits as you explore different schools.

5. Are you interested in online (virtual) classes, in-class (traditional, a.k.a. physical) classes, or hybrid classes (a combination of in-class and online elements)? This question gets at the heart of how you want to receive your education or training. One of the most common points to consider is whether you have what it takes to succeed with online classes. A good resource to check your online learning readiness is a short survey developed by Ball State University. The survey brings up a number of key issues such as availability of a new (or relatively new) computer, high speed internet service, comfort level using a computer and learning to operate new software, ability to be a self-starter and self-motivator and so forth. If you are well organized and good at figuring things out and getting things done, then online learning could be a perfect option for you. On the other hand, if you need to have the support of a teacher in close proximity or want to actually see and physically interact with classmates, then a traditional learning environment may be a better choice. Last, but not least, be aware that many programs allow the flexibility of doing both, where students come together once a week (or once a month) and submit assignments or have discussions using online tools such as discussion boards and chat rooms. These hybrid courses provide the best of both worlds to students.

6. What is your budget? Contrary to popular belief, online education costs are comparable to costs of traditional programs. In fact, sometimes online degrees can have significantly higher tuition and fees than programs offered on a physical “bricks and mortar” campus. Many schools offer different types of financial assistance, from grants to scholarships to loans, but there may be limitations on how much you can qualify for or receive. I could do another post on financing your education (so be on the lookout for that), but right now you will need to determine how much you are willing to pay. Most programs will refer to cost in terms of credit hours. A typical college or university course is worth at least three (3) credit hours, although some may be worth more or less. So, to determine how much you will pay for a class, let's imagine that, at a private university, Program X’s tuition is listed as $510 per credit. A quick calculation shows that $510 x 3 credits = $1530 for one class. A public school or community college may be significantly cheaper, like $50 per credit which equals $150 per three-credit class. Of course, fees and books are generally not included, so don’t forget to figure those expenses in as well. Other expenses which are commonly overlooked include travel or transportation expenses, parking, childcare, and other school-related materials. Make sure that you are financially prepared to pay for your educational investment.

After you have spent some time determining your answers to those questions, you will be ready to start looking at possible schools and programs. For my next post, the Online College Adviser will look at important points to consider when actually choosing your new college or university.

In the meantime, please check out the resources that I have put together at the Online College Adviser’s resource website. You'll find a number of links to help you get your feet wet and start to explore what a tremendous number of programs and options are available.

Onward and upward!

Look for my next post: All About Accreditation

A College Degree: Not "Just A Piece of Paper"

I'm the Online College Adviser, and for good reason. I've been a professional academic adviser for over 10 years. As such, I have helped thousands if not tens of thousands of people figure out what it takes to be able to go back to school and get back on track in pursuing their college or university degrees. But almost without fail, within the course of that initial conversation, the person says, "Everyone knows that it's just a piece of paper, but that little piece of paper is keeping me from getting the promotion I've been aiming for (or earning the salary that I deserve, etc.)."

It doesn't take a genius to know how valuable that "little piece of paper is." Just look in the newspaper classified ads and you'll see jobs one after the other listing a college degree as a necessary requirement, even to get your foot in the door. And more and more people are being passed over for promotions because they don't have that vital accomplishment on their resume. In fact, as the world becomes more technologically advanced, a college degree coupled with real world skills is what employers want. And contrary to popular belief, there are often many significant differences between those who have completed degrees and those who have not. A good degree adds significant value (which I'll discuss more in another post). That's why employers keep on searching for and hiring the applicants with degrees.

A college degree is truly a key to unlock the door to countless future opportunities.

The main thing I wanted to point out today is that a college or university degree is so much more than just a piece of paper. It's not quick; it's not easy; and it doesn't come without some sacrifice. But that's part of what makes it so valuable. Except for those diploma mills which sell degrees requiring lots of money but not a lot of effort (yet another topic which I'll save that for another post), legitimate schools and programs will require your time and commitment. They will challenge you to stretch yourself, sometimes to the limit. To walk this road takes patience and grit and focus and determination. And hopefully, if you do it right, it's also going to be extremely rewarding because, more likely than not, your mind will expand, your perspectives will shift, and your horizons will broaden. You'll experience the thrill of that proverbial light bulb switching on and saying to yourself, "Wow...I never thought of it like that before."

Education changes people in meaningful and significant ways.

Without a doubt, there is so much to learn in life and there is plenty which can be gleaned from experiences outside of college. I'm not contesting that AT ALL. However, there are all kinds of advantages and skills that come as a result of formalized learning programs like associate, bachelor, or master degree programs, which is one reason why they are increasingly growing in popularity. Most notably, online college and university degree programs are in EXTREMELY high demand because most people don't have the luxury of quitting their day job in order to go back to school.

More education = greater earning potential

One final reason to take the plunge and head back to school is the bottom line, pure and simple: academic or technical degrees almost always equate to more money. In other words, more education equates to greater earning potential. This trend has been seen for years, and there are lots of different studies out there to back it up. However, the clearest one I found comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. They released a report last year (2006) based on data from 2004, and they found the following:

“Adults age 18 and older with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $51,554 in 2004, while those with a high school diploma earned $28,645.... Those without a high school diploma earned an average of $19,169.” (If you're interested, you can view the report details HERE.)

So, the difference can be thousands of dollars every year and hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of your lifetime.

If those numbers don’t convince you to do something now, then maybe this will. Researchers at Arizona State University’s Center for Business Research (posted on October 27, 2005) found that a college degree is a better long-term investment than even the stock market.

“Putting money into a four-year college education turns out to be a better financial investment – to the tune of $1 million more over one’s lifetime than people who have just a high school education.

The rate of return on the money spent to earn a bachelor's degree is 12 percent per year, compared with the long-run average annual return on stocks of 7 percent.” (View the full story HERE.)

You’ve probably been searching around for some information on how to get started. It can be a very overwhelming process, so the best way to handle it is to take a deep breath and dive right in. The good news is that you found Online College Adviser. This blog will give you resources, answer questions, and offer guidance to get you back on the road to your own college degree. Also, I'll do my best to point out potential pitfalls that make it difficult to complete an educational degree, especially if you are taking courses through an online college or university.

I always like to share with my students this particular motivational quote, especially as they embark on the pursuit of a college degree:

The race is won not always by the swift,
but by those who keep on running.

Remember: it's not a sprint; it's actually closer to a marathon (or at least a fairly long race).

But don't despair. Rest assured that the Online College Adviser is here to help you get fired up to go back to school. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to post them. I will use your feedback to shape what I write as the days and weeks go by. And I remain confident that you will take what you learn to be able to get back on track to completing your college degree.

But for now, here are some resources to help get you started. I'm in the process of gathering more, but at least this is a place to begin. Click the Online College Adviser's resource website.

Onward and upward!

Look for my next post: Back to College - First Steps