Choosing an Accredited Online School for Higher Education

By Kelly Richardson
Career Colleges Columnist

If you are considering advancing your career by earning an online degree, make sure that the time and commitment that you put into it will be honored in your profession. If you don't attend an accredited online school, your new degree might not be worth it.

One of the most important qualities of an online school is its accreditation status. Being accredited means that the online school's programs and courses have been examined by a governing educational body and meet the approval of state or national standards. Without accreditation, the degree conferred from an online school is usually not recognized in most major industries. The education field, for example, requires strict adherence to graduation from accredited online schools. To become accredited, the school must successfully navigate a lengthy examination program.

Accreditation: What Does it Mean?

Who is Accredited? All campus and online colleges and universities go through one of 19 recognized accrediting organizations to earn accredited status.
Who are the Accrediting Bodies? The accrediting organizations are non-profit, nongovernmental organizations, employing a variety of education experts.
How Does This Affect Me? Most government financial aid programs require students to enter an accredited online school in order to qualify for grants or loans.

So now that you know the importance of taking accredited classes, you need to know how to find an accredited online school for your advanced degree. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind when choosing an online program that is accredited with a national body.

Check the Web. If an online school is accredited, they will usually say so right on their homepage.
Call the Office. The best way to find out about the accreditation status of an online school is to call the main office and ask them directly.
Contact the CHEA. The Council for Higher Education Association is a quality source for information on finding accredited online schools.

Taking accredited online classes is the surest way to earn your advanced degree and improve your career prospects.

About the Author
Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in a variety of respected educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

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