Skip to main content

10 Facts About Accreditation in Online Degree Programs

By U.S. News & World Report

Consider Whether a Program Is Accredited

Accreditation is a process conducted by an outside authority to ensure a school and degree program — whether online, on campus or blended — meet certain standards of quality. Though it’s voluntary, accreditation has many benefits and tells employers and other institutions a program is legitimate.

Here are 10 facts to consider about accreditation when selecting an online degree program.

1. There are two levels of accreditation.

Prospective online students should usually confirm that both a program and the university have specialized and institutional accreditation, respectively, experts say. Specialized, or programmatic, accreditation is for particular degrees, departments or schools, while institutional applies to an entire university.

Not every program, however, has specialized accreditation. That varies depending on the university and industry standards.

2. Accreditation status is generally published online.

A program should be accredited by agencies recognized by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, experts say.

Accreditation status is typically published on a program’s website, Karen Pedersen, chief knowledge officer for the Online Learning Consortium, a group aiming to improve online higher education, told U.S. News in 2016. Prospective online students can double-check through the department or the council, or by contacting the school.

3. Not all programs are accredited.

Accreditation is important for online students given the number of fraudulent programs on the internet. If something seems too good to be true — abnormally low tuition, for instance — check the accreditation, experts say.

Prospective online students should also avoid so-called “accreditation mills,” or groups that accredit schools under minimum standards, by confirming the accreditor is recognized by the DOE or CHEA.

4. Programs at reputable schools are usually accredited.

It’s usually safe to assume an online program at a respected, well-known university will have both institutional and specialized accreditation, experts say, but it’s still a good idea to confirm before applying.

While it’s not common, “Even good schools sometimes do things, or have things happen, that may jeopardize their accreditation,” Jennifer Mathes, director of strategic partnerships for OLC, told U.S. News.

5. Employers might verify a program’s accreditation.

Especially for lesser-known schools, many employers will verify that a candidate’s online college has accreditation, recruiters say. Regional accreditation is usually preferred over national accreditation, which is often a less rigorous process, one expert told U.S. News.

While accreditation doesn’t guarantee quality, it ensures “there is oversight regarding the instruction and their authority to issue degrees,” Susan Aldridge, now president of Drexel University Online, told U.S. News in 2013.

6. Accreditation helps ensure credits transfer.

Choosing a school with regional accreditation, which includes most state universities and private nonprofits, also increases the likelihood that credits will transfer to other similar institutions, Aldridge said.

That’s particularly important for online students, who often enroll with some education already completed, experts say.

7. Many for-profits are nationally accredited.

For-profit, online programs are more likely to have national rather than regional accreditation — though that’s not the case at some major for-profits, Kevin Kinser, professor and head of the education policy studies department at Pennsylvania State University, told U.S. News.

“I think it’s fair to say, if schools are not regionally accredited, it’s because they couldn’t get regionally accredited, and so they’re only nationally accredited,” Kinser says.

8. Accreditation may affect online students’ financial aid.

Like those on campus, online students can receive federal financial aid — if their school has institutional accreditation, Barbara Gellman-Danley, president of the Higher Learning Commission, which accredits colleges and universities, told U.S. News earlier this year. In most cases, grants, loans and work-study are available for online students.

9. Accreditation is rigorous and continuous.

Accreditation usually involves a self-review and a site visit by faculty or administrators at similar universities and practitioners in the field. For online programs, evaluators might access online classes and interact with students virtually, says Mathes of the Online Learning Consortium.

Agencies then monitor programs and institutions to ensure they continue to meet standards, and programs are typically re-accredited every several years.

10. Online and on-campus programs are held to the same standard.

Expectations aren’t lower just because a program is online; however, an accreditor might take extra steps to ensure a program meets online students’ specific needs, Mathes says.

For example, she says, they might determine how well students and faculty interact in the virtual classroom and how student services function for remote learners.

Learn More About Online Education

Find more advice about accreditation and how to choose an online degree program on the Online Learning Lessons blog, and get our complete rankings of the Best Online Programs.

For additional tips and information on how to navigate online program admissions, connect with U.S. News Education on Twitter or Facebook.

More from U.S. News

Accreditation of Online Degree Programs: Frequently Asked Questions

4 Things to Know About Accreditation in Online Nursing Programs

Infographic: Online Student Checklist

10 Facts About Accreditation in Online Degree Programs originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote