What's the Big Deal About Accreditation?

Become an A+ Mom

If you're pursuing an online degree program, you've probably encountered the term "accreditation," which refers to a private, voluntary system of self-examination and peer review dedicated to assuring and improving the quality of higher education institutions and programs. Before your eyes gloss over, review these six reasons why accreditation matters to you.

1. Accreditation is an indicator of academic quality.
Accreditation offers a system of quality assurance as well as quality improvement for traditional as well as online degree programs. Accredited institutions are accountable to a higher authority for their performance and student learning outcomes, so you can feel confident in the quality of the education you'll receive.

2. Accreditation opens doors to financial aid awards.
In order for a school or program to receive federal and state financial aid, it must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This is an essential point, since most students rely on some form of financial aid to fund their higher education.

3. Accreditation ensures peace of mind.
If a program or an institution is accredited, that means it's legit. You don't have to worry about getting stuck with a fly-by-night diploma mill, which can be a real concern when you're wading through the sea of online degree programs available.

4. Accreditation serves as the first step to professional licensure.
In many states, only those who have graduated from an accredited program are eligible to apply for professional licensure. If you're pursuing a specific profession, choosing an unaccredited online degree program is just a waste of time.

5. Accreditation is a key consideration for tuition reimbursement.
If you want your employer to foot your online education bill, you'll typically need to enroll in an accredited online degree program. Employers are not going to put their money into a training program that has no oversight.

6. Accreditation paves the way for academic transfer.
The successful transfer of academic credit to another institution often hinges on the accreditation status of the first school. So don't expect to be able to transfer your credits from www.iheartlerning.usa if it doesn't have the proper credentials.

Check with the USDE (http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html) or CHEA (http://chea.org/) to find out if your online degree program accreditation is the real thing.

by Robyn Tellefsen

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