Online Degree Completion

Accredited Online Degree Programs

Accredited online degree programs provide the student and his or her future employer with the assurance that the degree or certificate that is being earned has been reviewed by an independent group of peer institutions or a government body to ensure it meets certain standards of education. In the majority of the world, accreditation is performed by a government body such as and education ministry or department. However, the process is different in the United States and it is important to understand how accreditation works for universities and colleges there if you are considering a degree through an American online program.

The U.S. government does have a significant, though indirect, role in accrediting schools; it recognizes accrediting bodies as reputable or not. If you want to determine whether or not the program you are considering is accredited by a body that is recognized as reputable by the United States government, you can check with either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

However, there is another important factor to consider. There are two basic kinds of accrediting bodies in the United States: regional and national. There are six regional accrediting bodies in the United States which accredit the majority of the public and private universities and colleges in the nation that are academic rather than vocational in nature. If the program you are considering is accredited by one of the regional bodies, you can be confident that it will be recognized by any major university or college in the country.

There are also 52 different national accrediting bodies. They can accredit schools in the U.S. as well as in other countries, though they generally accredit vocational or technical rather than academic programs. Accredited online degree programs that are accredited by a national accrediting body may not be accepted by schools that are regionally accredited.