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