Online degree courses

Online degree courses Taking courses from an Accredited College or University is important. If you take classes at an unaccredited college your degree will worthless in the market place.

Some people do not realize that it is not enough to find an accredited online college or university, you also need to be sure that the specific program you want is also accredited before you sign up for Online degree courses.

How this works. Most professional programs (Nursing, Teaching etc.)have their own accrediting boards. Each college or university needs to apply for special accreditation for these programs if their graduates are to use their degree in the marketplace. If you are going to take Online degree courses make sure that the individual major or program that you are considering also has been awarded accreditation if such is available.

Finding accredited programs

How can your find out if a college or university Online degree courses are accredited and that the program that interests you has passed all special accreditation reviews?

It is easy, ASK. Most institutions are very proud of gaining

such recognition. Program accreditation is usually listed in admissions material and it is usually included in the description of the program on the college or university web site. If you do NOT see a statement about accreditation, ask. Ask an admissions counselor. "What accreditation does your institution have? Has this major also received professional accreditation?" This is one of most important questions you need answered before you enroll in any program.

Be sure to get the answer in writing. (E-mail is fine. Just be sure to save the e-mail.)

Here is a list of the major agencies and special educational groups that review colleges and universities in the United States. With this information in hand, you are able screen colleges and universities in the United States that offer Online degree courses because you will know what sort of accreditation they should have.

National Agencies for Accredited Online degree courses at college and universities.

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.. Virgin Islands
New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges : Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia
Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges; Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities: California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Click here for some practical advice (as well as some warnings) about Online degrees courses

You can check the U.S. Government site of Online degree courses - Accredited programs