What is Accreditation?

Accreditation relies on voluntary reviews by thousands of educators across the U.S. each year.

Our Accredited Online Universites directory is a great place to start your search for the right online accredited degree program.

Why is accreditation important?
According to the US Department of Education, college accreditation is used by students and universities alike to:

• verify that an college or university meets established standards
• assist students in identifying acceptable colleges or universities
• create goals for self-improvement and raising of standards among educational institutions
• establish criteria for professional certification and licensure and for upgrading courses offering such preparation
• provide criteria used as a basis for receiving federal financial assistance and student aid

With all the online universities and online degree programs popping up on the Internet lately, it's vital to check if the online college or university is accredited. Also make sure the accrediting agency is legitimate and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Accreditation. We've done that for you with our Directory of Accredited Online Degrees.

Regional Accreditation Agencies:
Regional accrediting agencies are the most widely known institutional accreditors. Their accrediting process is very thorough, involving reports on all key educational areas. Full accreditation and membership in the association can take up to five years. The following regional accreditation agencies have been recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Accreditation:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Specialized accrediting organizations, which are national in scope, accredit particular programs within a college or university. Newer, online degree programs are frequently accredited by specialized accrediting organizations, whose processes are thorough, but generally take less time than the regional agencies.