Break It Down: Accreditation

With so many "Free Degree" emails entering your in box, you need to ensure that the distance learning program you choose is reputable. It all comes down to accreditation. Of course, it's not that simple. "Schools will advertise that they're accredited, which is what everyone's looking for," says Steven Shapiro, vice president, marketing and communications, Jones International University (JIU, Englewood, CO). "But what does that mean?"

>>Definition
First, understand the terminology. Accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution or program that meets or exceeds predetermined criteria of educational quality. Basically, it's an academic stamp of approval.

>>Importance
You may be tempted to go against the grain and study at a school that isn't accredited – after all, you don't need anyone's approval, right? In this case, wrong. Accreditation ensures the quality of an institution or program, and assists in its improvement. And if you ever want to transfer credits to an accredited school, good luck getting your non-accredited coursework recognized.

>>Types
Believe it or not, just knowing a school should be accredited isn't enough. You need to find out who is conferring the accreditation, and if that particular accreditation is recognized. The recognizers? Washington, D.C.-based Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a private nonprofit national organization, and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). They each review the quality and effectiveness of accrediting organizations, recognizing many of the same ones, but not all. USDE recognition is required for institutions that seek eligibility for federal student financial aid, and CHEA recognition confers academic legitimacy.

Regional Accreditation:

Don't let the name mislead you – regional accreditation is actually the highest level of accreditation a university (including online schools, such as JIU) can obtain, and is recognized throughout the country. CHEA and USDE recognize these six regional accrediting associations, each responsible for a specific geographic area:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and College

National Accreditation:

As opposed to regional accreditation associations, which for the most part accredit nonprofit, degree-granting institutions, national organizations accredit mainly for-profit, non-degree granting, single-purpose institutions, such as information technology or faith-based schools. CHEA and USDE recognize the following six national accrediting associations:

Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges
Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Accreditation Commission

Specialized/Professional Accreditation:

These national associations accredit particular programs within a college or university, rather than an entire institution, with the exception of some single-purpose institutions. There are currently 44 accrediting bodies recognized by CHEA, and 46 by USDE (with some overlap), including the American Psychological Association, National Association of Schools of Music, and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. So, for instance, a college may be regionally accredited and also have specialized accreditations for its professional programs.

>>Benefits: Schools that aren't accredited can exist legally by meeting their particular state requirements, and are known as “state-licensed” or “state-approved.” Costs are comparatively low, and courses tend to be vocationally-biased toward adult degree completion. But there are benefits to going the accredited route:

* Only accredited universities and programs are eligible for federal (and sometimes state) student financial aid.
* Some employers won't provide tuition assistance or recognize your credentials if your program isn't accredited.
* State governments require accreditation when they allow students to sit for state licensure examinations in some professional fields.

Find out if your school or program's accreditation is legit at www.chea.org or www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.php.

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