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Why Accreditation Matters for Online Colleges and Universities

At Affordable Colleges Online, one of the key ways we determine whether an online school can provide a great education is by ensuring it is accredited. The goal of the accreditation process is to determine whether a college or university meets specific, universal standards and guidelines around academic quality, curriculum, and faculty qualifications.

Educational institutions and career programs can be accredited regionally or nationally. The six regional agencies each have a cluster of states where they oversee academics in state-owned or non-profit schools, and the national agencies focus on vocational institutions, as well as certificate or degree programs.

Accreditation is not only important in that it signals credibility, but also to receive financial aid and be able to sit for licensure exams.

Looking into your chosen schools' accreditation should be a priority during your research process. Most will name their accreditation on their homepage, but there are also several databases you can use, such as:

• Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

• Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)

• U.S. Department of Education (USDE)