College and University Accreditation
Aug 09Students thinking about colleges and universities, career schools and even online degree programs are usually confused with the concept of college and university accreditation. Also, they generally confuse it with state licensure, that is completely different.
State licensure will allow for a school or college to perform under legal standing. But, the standards a school or college should fulfill to be state licensed in many cases are quite low. The standards for college and university accreditation are far higher. So, steer clear of the school or college that mentions licensure and not accreditation.
College and University Accreditation : Is it Important?
It’s even more important to realize that many colleges and universities, especially online colleges and universities (those with no traditional, campus-based degree programs), claim accreditation from agencies which are not recognized by the United States Department of Education. While some of these unrecognized accrediting agencies may make a legitimate attempt to evaluate and insist on some measure of quality from the colleges and universities they accredit, their stamp of approval is generally meaningless in the professional world and in the world of fully accredited (online and traditional) colleges and universities.
For example, in their help wanted announcements, schools, colleges, and universities virtually always require that applicants hold degrees from institutions accredited by U.S. Department of Education recognized agencies.
Understanding College and University Accreditation
Accredited colleges and universities will almost never accept transfer credit for courses completed at unaccredited colleges or universities. And, they do not differentiate between colleges with no accreditation at all and those with so-called accreditation offered by unrecognized agencies.
Even if your educational and career goals are such that accreditation is not a priority for you now, attending a college or university that is not fully accredited could turn out to be a big mistake for several reasons. An accredited school is much more likely to offer you a high quality academic program staffed by qualified faculty. And, if your situation or your goals change, a degree from an accredited college or university will give you far more options. Your safest bet is to visit the U.S. Department of Education website, get a list of recognized accrediting agencies, and select only a college or university accredited by one or more of them.
Attending an accredited college…be it campus-based or online…is not a guarantee that all of your expectations will be met. But, it will mean that you will complete an approved curriculum taught by instructors with appropriate backgrounds and experience. And, it means your coursework is far more likely to be recognized if you transfer or want to earn a higher degree at some point in the future.
Daniel Kane has been a college director and dean of admissions. He authored and maintains one website on online college degree rograms, another on online degree graduate school programs, and more than a half dozen additional education sites - College and University Accreditation
