Understanding the Importance of Accreditation for Online Education

Accreditation is crucial and should be one of the first things you check when you are considering online schools. Only accredited universities guarantee a degree that will be honored by future employers and other schools.

Even if getting a job with a degree is not a priority, accreditation ensures that a school is meeting standards set by experts in their field. Most people go to school to learn accurate information about a particular topic and accreditation is the process which assures this information is of high quality and accuracy. The following series of articles will go over why you must pay attention to accreditation if you hope to receive a good education.

What is Accreditation? Who is Responsible for the Accreditation Process? Various Types of Accreditation Explained

The Disadvantages of a Non-Accredited Education How to Spot a Non-Accredited School What Happens When a School Loses Its Accreditation?

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation can be seen as educational insurance. For students earning a degree, accreditation is a way of knowing the education they are getting has met standards set by both the government and experts in the field of post-secondary education.

Accreditation happens when an outside, non-profit organization studies the curriculum and programs offered at a college or university and, after finding the school meets stringent educational standards, grants the school a quality education stamp of approval. There are many accrediting agencies in the United States, but only a select few are accepted by the major governing bodies of the accrediting process.

All of these agencies work to promote, strengthen, and assure the operation of quality educational at the post-secondary level. In the United States, schools are not required to be accredited, even though it is to their advantage because students are always advised to get their education through accredited universities only.

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Who is Responsible for the Accreditation Process?

The accrediting process is made up of a number of organizations, one to umbrella over another, to make a quality check system. The U.S. Department of Education holds the most authority over the accrediting process. All accrediting associations must pass by the U.S. government if it will pass at all. Under the Department of Education are two main agencies that grant approval of smaller agencies, both regionally and nationally. These are the Council for Higher Education Association (CHEA), formerly known as COPA and CORPA, and the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA). These overarching associations delegate the regional, and national boards that are appropriated to accredit a college or university.

As a whole, the associations within the accreditation process help to uphold the quality education offered in post-secondary schools throughout the country. None of these boards, however, would exist without the people who organized them. All accreditation boards are made up of government officials with experience in the world of education, or experts in a particular field of study. There are also every day citizens who sit on accreditation boards, to balance out the decision making process. Whatever the background of each person on the board, they are all highly respected in their fields.

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Various Types of Accreditation Explained

There are numerous types of accreditation available to colleges. Some are more prestigious than others, others focus on certain types of schools (such as vocational schools), and still more are based around a school's specific beliefs. Here is a breakdown of the various types of accreditation and what each one means about the school in question.

Institutional Accreditation: This is a type of accreditation that looks at a school or university as a whole, rather than the specific programs within the institution. The two different types of institutional accreditation include regional and national. These are explained in more detail below.

Regional Accreditation: Regional Accreditation is the most prestigious and widely accepted form of accreditation in the United States. There are a total of eight regional accrediting associations throughout the United States that govern the six regions of the country. These associations use a broad scope to accredit entire colleges or universities. Regional Accreditation also usually targets schools that offer a more general, well-rounded education, such as a liberal arts school, rather than a career training school.

National Accreditation: Like Regional Accreditation, national accreditation gives the quality stamp of approval for entire educational institutions, rather than the individual programs in the school. National Accreditors focus on more specialized programs, such as vocational schools. Though National Accreditation is not at the same caliber as Regional Accreditation, there are still very strict guidelines that schools must meet in order to receive National Accreditation. There are also a number of subcategories within National Accreditation, which include Specialized, Faith-Based and Private Career Accreditation. Refer to the list of accreditations below to find out more about these more specific categories.

Specialized Accreditation: Specialized Accreditation is also referred to as Programmatic and Professional Accreditation. It focuses on making sure specific programs are meeting National standards in their scope and quality of education. There are hundreds of Specialized Accreditation bodies reigning over different types of programs, which gear students toward a vocational goal, rather than giving them a broad education. Specialized Accreditors usually cover programs that train professionals in very narrow fields, such as radiology technology and ESL teaching. Accrediting organizations that fit into this category approve of programs that you could call "single purpose." The Council for Interior Design Accreditation and The National Association of Schools of Theater are two examples of the very specific targets of Specialized Accrediting associations. Students should note that even if Specialized Accreditation is required for a licensing or certificate program, accreditation guarantees the staff is qualified to train in that field.

Faith-Based Accreditation: Faith-Based Accreditation is a group of National Accreditation associations that specialize in religiously affiliated colleges and universities. Faith-based Accrediting agencies usually govern over an entire institution, rather than a specific program.

Private-Career Accreditation: These accrediting associations focus on private schools that offer specialized vocational training.

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The Disadvantages of a Non-Accredited Education

It is hard to fully appreciate the benefits of an accredited degree until you understand the disadvantages of receiving a non-accredited degree. From throwing away money to employers not taking you seriously, it is vital to your future that you choose a school that is fully accredited. Here are some of the top eight disadvantages of attending an unaccredited institution.

1. You will not receive a quality education.
Accreditation guarantees that the school you attend meets certain standards and requirements. If you attend a non-accredited school you will have no way of knowing if you can trust your education.

2. Your degree will not be respected by employers.
Potential employers will not respect your degree if it is not from an accredited degree. They need assurance that the school you attended gave you the skill set you need to do a good job. A non-accredited degree offers them no guarantee.

3. You will not be able to transfer credits.

In order to transfer credits to another institution, your school must be accredited. Further, some accreditation types do not allow transfers to others. For instance, if you are attending a Specialized Accredited school and are looking to transfer to a Regionally Accredited school, you may not be able to under Regional Accreditation guidelines. Speak to your school's registrar office before committing to any one institution and make sure you do not get stuck.

4. You cannot receive Federal financial aid.
In order to receive Federal financial aid, you must be registered at an accredited organization.

5. You will overpay.
Not only can you not receive Federal financial aid, you will not receive a good education and you will have problems obtaining a job. Therefore, the money you spend on an non-accredited education is wasted.

6. You will not have the support you need.
From not having a financial aid office or career office, to lacking a one-on-one relationship with your professors, unaccredited schools will not support you like an accredited college does.

7. There will be no extra-curricular activities.
For many, extra-curricular activities are important aspects of any college experience. While most online schools do not offer intramural sports, many hold lectures in big cities and offer group chats with other people from the college. By attending a non-accredited university you will be missing out on all of these potential opportunities.

8. You will not be eligible for private or public scholarships.
Scholarship committees want their money to go to individuals they feel will really make good use of it. Individuals who are attending non-accredited schools do not fall into this category. Therefore, as an attendee of an unaccredited school, you cannot rely on any scholarships.

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How to Spot a Non-Accredited School

Non-accredited institution websites go out of their way to convince you that they are legitimate, qualified, and most important, accredited. It is not uncommon for individuals to be tricked by fancy rhetoric and fake accreditation pages. Here are ten surefire ways to spot a degree mill.

1. Degrees are available for purchase.
If a school offers "degrees for purchase" you know you are dealing with a less than honest organization.

2. While the school may claim accreditation, it is impossible to find the agency that accredits them.
Many schools boast accreditation, but do not actually have the seal of approval. Check with The Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs before believing anything a university says on their website.

3. The school asks you to pay for your degree in one, lump sum.
Like traditional schools, institutions that are accredited ask you to pay your tuition by semester or quarter. A school that asks for one large sum up front is usually a scam.

4. The mailing address is a P.O. Box.
If the mailing address of your school is a P.O. Box, chances are it is not a school you can trust.

5. You can never get in touch with the school.
Schools that are accredited generally have very good customer service. It is easy to get in touch with the financial aid departments and faculty. If you are dealing with a school that does not answer their listed phone number, you have a problem.

6. The school gives you "life credits."
It is not too good to be true. Accredited institutions do not give out credits based on your previous work experience. Any school that does is only after your money.

7. The cost of your education is very low.
While it may seem like a dream come true, any suspiciously low institution is likely tricking you. Online schools are no different than traditional universities and education is expensive. You must pay the full price to get a worthwhile experience.

8. The institution claims that they received accreditation very quickly.
It takes years for some schools to be accredited. If you see that a school has been accredited in a matter of months, something is not right.

9. The school claims to have permanent accreditation.
It is impossible for a school to have permanent accreditation. All types of accreditation require period reviews.

10. The name of the school is very similar to a prestigious school. Don't allow diploma mills to trick you. Attending Columbo University is not the same as attending Columbia University.

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What Happens When a School Loses Accreditation

You may have heard horror stories of students whose school lost accreditation: financial aid withdrawal, worthless degrees, and wasted money are just the tip of the iceberg. Nothing compares to the frustration of a student who has put in hours of work into a degree program, only to have their achievements yanked out from under them when their school loses accreditation.

Thankfully, most schools are never in danger of losing their accreditation; it is a very rare occurrence. It is a possibility however, so a thorough investigation into the schools you are considering is a must. However, should the worst happen, students need to understand their options.

Here are some frequently asked questions that students have about accreditation loss.

How will I know if my school loses accreditation?

You may or may not be notified by your school if it loses accreditation. Some schools actually neglect to inform their students of this critical occurrence. If you are suddenly ineligible for financial aid (assuming you previously received it and your financial circumstances have not changed), or there is a major decrease in educational quality, those are clues that something might be wrong. You can check your school's accreditation status via the U.S. Department of Education Database. If you see a “Terminated” notification, your school has lost its accreditation.

Can I get my money back?

Sadly, it is not that easy. There is rarely a direct avenue to reclaim your money; in fact, some schools lose accreditation over financial mismanagement, so your money may have vanished entirely.

Will my credits transfer?

It is unlikely that your current credits will transfer; however, you may find that other schools are willing to accept credits earned before the accreditation was lost. Credit transfer policies vary significantly from school to school even without accreditation loss being thrown into the mix. Contact the institution to which you want to transfer for further information.

Can I sue?

You can, but there is no guarantee you will win. However, there have been several cases where students have brought suits against their schools for fraudulent behavior, such as pretending that credits will transfer easily when they will not, or by deceiving students about their accreditation status. In some cases, students were able to receive some compensation, but since lawsuits are lengthy, complicated, and expensive, it is better to simply make sure your school is not in danger of losing accreditation in the first place.

How can I find out if the school I plan to attend might be on the verge of losing accreditation?

Since accreditation includes a lengthy review process and is renewed over time, schools are put on probation or warning status by accrediting bodies before they actually lose accreditation. Probation gives schools a chance to address problematic issues that the accrediting agency notices. You can find out if a school is on probation by checking with the appropriate regional or national accrediting body.

Also, find out what other students have to say about the school. If you hear a lot of complaints about the educational quality it might be a clue that your school is in trouble. Similarly, if the school engages in high-pressure sales tactics to get you to enroll, they may not have your best interests in mind. If they seem desperate for students (rather than just friendly) that is also a signal that something is wrong.

Do not let cheap tuition seduce you into committing to a school that might lose its accreditation soon. Check your program carefully before you make a decision—it could affect the rest of your life.

Article References

The Roanoke Times
Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Puget Sound Business Journal

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