Most accreditation for an online college degree is similar to traditional brick and mortar institutions. But, before you enroll in any school or institution of higher learning, it’s important to verify accreditation. So, what exactly does that mean?
What is Accreditation in Education?
Accreditation in education is the voluntary process of evaluation and recognition of educational institutions and programs by an external organization. The process ensures that institutions and programs meet certain predetermined standards of quality.
It is important because it provides a standard for assessing the quality of education provided by an institution or program, and it signifies that a program or institution meets certain benchmarks. For example, accreditation is often used by employers and other educational institutions to evaluate the worth of a program or institution.
Do Online Colleges have Accreditation?
The accreditation of online colleges and universities is an important factor to consider when selecting an institution to attend. Most accrediting bodies are regional or national, and their standards and processes vary from one organization to another. Private accrediting organizations must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and accreditation can be either institutional or program-specific.
There are two main types of accreditation. First, there is a process for the institution as a whole that affects all the students that attend that college or university. Additionally, there is accreditation for individual programs or majors.
Institutional Accreditation or School Specific Accreditation
Institutional accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of an educational institution, such as a university, college, or other schools, are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. This type of accreditation is typically granted by a non-governmental, non-profit organization, such as an academic association or an accreditation board.
Accreditation is considered to be a voluntary process, although sometimes institutional accreditation is required for certain types of financial aid or other benefits.
There are different types of institutional accreditation, Regional Accreditation and National Accreditation.
1. Regional Accreditation
Regional accreditation is a type of educational accreditation that is awarded in the US to schools, colleges, and universities by one of six regional accrediting bodies. This accreditation is the most widely recognized form and is a requirement for an institution to receive federal funding for student aid. Regional accreditation is designed to ensure that higher education institutions meet certain standards of quality. It also allows for a more streamlined transfer of credits between institutions.
| Regional Institutional Accreditation | |
|---|---|
| Higher Learning Commission | (HLC) |
| Middle States Commission on Higher Education | (MSCHE) |
| New England Commission of Higher Education | (NECHE) |
| Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | (NWCCU) |
| Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | (SACSCOC) |
| Western Association of Schools and Colleges WASC Senior College and University Commission | (WSCUC) |
2. National Accreditation
National accreditation is for entire institutions, particularly institutions that operate in more than one state. This type of accreditation provided by a nongovernmental organization is also approved by the US Department of Education (ED) to evaluate colleges and universities. It is is typically for vocational and technical schools, as well as for-profit institutions. National accreditation is generally not recognized by the ED as equivalent to regional accreditation, which is granted by regional associations of schools and colleges.
| National Institutional Accreditation | |
|---|---|
| Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges | (ACCJC) |
| Distance Education Accrediting Commission | (DEAC) |
| Council on Occupational Education | (COE) |
| National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences | (NACCAS) |
Program-Specific Accreditation
Programmatic accreditation accredits select programs from institutions. Program-specific accreditation is provided by specialized agencies and focuses on the quality of a specific program or department. This type of accreditation is often required by employers and professional organizations in order to recognize the academic rigor of a particular program. Below are examples of program-specific accreditation.
Architecture Program Accreditation
- National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) – develops and maintains an accreditation system in professional degree education that enhances the value, relevance, and effectiveness of the profession of architecture.
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Accreditation
- Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) CAA-ASHA
Business Program Accreditation
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) – This organization is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). It accredits business, accounting, and business-related programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degree levels worldwide.
- International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) – The IACBE is recognized by CHEA. It accredits business, accounting and business-related degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree levels in institutions of higher education worldwide.
Construction Program Accreditation
- American Council for Construction Education ACCE
Dietetics Program Accreditation
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
Engineering Program Accreditation
- Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)– ATMAE is recognized by CHEA and accredits associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in technology, applied technology, engineering technology, and technology-related disciplines delivered at national or regional accredited institutions in the U.S.
Education Program Accreditation
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) – Recognized by CHEA, CAEP accredits educator preparation providers (EPPs) that offer bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees, post-baccalaureate, and other programs leading to certification, licensure, or endorsement in the U.S. and internationally.
- Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) – Recognized by The U.S. Department of Education, MACTE accredits certification programs based on the evidence schools have that prepare competent, caring, and qualified professional Montessori educators and hold the capacity to monitor and improve their program’s quality.
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) – Recognized by CHEA and U.S. Department of Education, NCATE accredits teacher education programs in U.S. colleges and universities.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – Recognized by CHEA, NAEYC accredits programs at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels that prepare candidates to work in the early childhood education profession. The degree program must be offered at an institution of higher education that is located in a U.S. state, district, or territory and currently accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education.
- Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) – Recognized by CHEA and the U.S. Department of Education, TEAC accredits undergraduate and graduate professional education programs to assure the public about the quality of college and university programs. The education program, not the college, school, department or other administrative unit of the institution, receives TEAC accreditation.
- English Language Programs: CEA
Forensic Science Program Accreditation
- Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences FEPAC / AAFS
Nursing Program Accreditation
- Nurse Anesthesia: COA-NA
- Nursing: ACEN
- Nursing: CCNE
- Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant: The Consortium
Social Work Program Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education, Commission on Accreditation (CSWE-COA) – This accrediting body is recognized by CHEA. It accredits bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in social work in the U.S. and its territories.
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) – Recognized by CHEA, this organization accredits master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties that are offered by colleges and universities in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Psychology Program Accreditation
- American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA)– Recognized by CHEA and USDE, the APA-CoA grants pre-accreditation and accreditation in the US to doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, school psychology, (and combinations of two or more of these practice areas); doctoral internship programs in health service psychology; and postdoctoral residency programs in health service psychology.
- Association for Behavior Analysis International Accreditation Board (ABAI) – Recognized by CHEA, ABAI accredits degree programs in behavior analysis at the master and doctoral levels in institutions of higher learning in the U.S.
- Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE-AAMFT) – Recognized by CHEA, this body grants accreditation to master’s, doctoral, and post-degree clinical training programs in marriage and family therapy in the US and Canada.
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) – This accrediting body is recognized by CHEA and accredits master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties that are offered by colleges and universities in the U.S. and throughout the world.
- Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) – Recognized by CHEA, MPCAC accredits counseling and psychology master’s degree programs located in regionally accredited colleges and universities that educate students in the science-based practice of counseling and psychological services.
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) – Recognized by CHEA, NASP accredits specialist-level degree programs and doctoral degree programs in school psychology. The degree program must be offered by a higher education institution that is located in the U.S. or its territories and is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education.
- Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS)– Recognized by CHEA, this organization accredits doctoral training programs that grant Ph.D. degrees in psychology with a core focus on the specialty of psychological clinical science and that are housed in departments of psychology (or their equivalent) within accredited nonprofit, research-intensive universities in the U.S. and Canada.
Urban Planning Program Accreditation
- Urban Planning: PAB
Project Management Program Accreditation
- Project Management: GAC
Library & Information Studies Program Accreditation
- Library & Information Studies: ALA-CoA
What is an Accredited Degree?
An accredited degree is a diploma or certification awarded by an educational institution or professional organization that has been officially recognized by an accrediting body, such as a regional accreditation agency or national accrediting agency. It ensures that the institution has met a set of educational and/or professional standards and that the credits or degrees it awards are legitimate.
How to Find Accreditation for Online College
If you are considering taking classes online, it is important to make sure that the online college is accredited. Accreditation is a process that ensures that schools meet certain standards of quality. In order to find out if an online college is accredited, you should first check the U.S. Department of Education’s website which list all accredited universities and colleges in the United States. You can also contact the college directly and ask if they are accredited.
Additionally, you can also look up the school on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s website. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is an organization that provides accreditation to higher education institutions. Finally, you can also search for the college’s name on the website of the accrediting agency that accredits the college.
- US Department of Education. Their Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP)
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation CHEA has a database for programmatic accreditations
What Accreditation Should an Online College Have?
An online college should have regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This ensures that the college has met certain standards of quality and is eligible for federal financial aid programs.
Why Online Colleges With Regional Accreditation are So Important
Online colleges with regional accreditation are an important part of the higher education landscape. Regional accreditation is the highest form of accreditation and ensures that the school meets rigorous standards of academic excellence. This type of accreditation is important for students because it ensures that the courses and programs offered are of the highest quality, making them more likely to be accepted for transfer credits or for admission to graduate programs.
Additionally, regional accreditation is important for employers, who may want to make sure that potential hires have received a quality education. Lastly, regional accreditation may be important for financial aid eligibility, as many student loan programs require that the school be regionally accredited in order to receive funding.
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