The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is a nationally recognized accrediting body that uniquely serves students and institutions seeking information and aid for distance education programs. The DETC is also a nonprofit organization and was founded in 1926, long before online education became a possibility. The Accrediting Commission division of the DETC was founded in 1955. Both CHEA — the Council for Higher Education Accreditation — and the U.S. Department of Education recognize the accrediting power of the DETC. To become accredited by the DETC, an institution must offer at least half of its courses through distance learning programs. Prospective students may search the database on the DETC website to view accreditation information for over 100 distance education postsecondary degree granting institutions, as well as distance education high schools. Students can search by institution name and geographical location, and/or by subject and type of institution.

The DETC is devoted to ensuring many different standards in its institutions, including ethical business practices, quality education and curriculum design, and significant tuition values. This unique standard lets students use the DETC as a resource for not only finding accredited distance education programs and schools, but cost effective ones as well.

The DETC works with the military to connect troops, veterans, and family of military officers to “military-friendly institutions” that accept transfer credits based on experience and offer very flexible programs, as well as tuition assistance, scholarships and other benefits. The DETC also works with more traditional employers in the U.S. workforce to share information about employee training through distance education and tuition reimbursement programs.