Each and every online university has different programs to offer due to its forte or school’s major.Some have Certificate and Degree programs while others have Diploma programs.
The online university must pass the validation process of the accreditation agencies in order to operate. It is being evaluated to determine if it can provide a good quality of education, and the assessment is centralized on the college’s mission and vision. In addition, the accrediting agency will take a look at its assets, expenditures, supports given to the students, and the quality of the faculty members (teaching techniques).
If the accrediting agencies are ones responsible for the evaluation of the online and on-campus universities, the government body is the one accountable for the assessment of the national and regional agencies. Not only that, the administration is obliged to create a list of accredited online colleges for the public.
Here are the Regional Accreditation Agencies and its scope:
1. Western Association of Schools and Colleges (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 Marianna Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands)
2. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia)
3. Northwest Commission onColleges and Universities(Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington)
4. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming)
5. New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut)
6. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Delaware)
*TheWestern Association of Schools and Colleges has two divisions and those areAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Collegesand Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.
National Accreditation:
1.Distance Educationand Training Council. This is designed for schools that provide education through World-Wide-Web (online university).
2. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
It is important to check the college’ accreditation history because there are some that give the same programs or courses but are not being recognized by the Council for Higher Education. Therefore, it is not going to be acknowledged by one’ future employer. No one wants this to happen so it is not worthless to make some effort to conduct a background research about the school’s credibility. As a result, employers will consider you to fill in the vacant positions in their companies. Overall, earning a degree from an accredited online university is a great way to find a rewarding career in the future.