If you’ve decided that attending an accredited college is right for you, then you’ll need to know a little bit more about some of the most common accrediting agencies and what to look for when you choose an online college.
Regional Accreditation
The most common and the most widely accepted form of accreditation, regional accreditation makes choosing a school a pretty safe bet. There are six regional accrediting agencies in the United States, each responsible for accrediting schools in certain states.
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools: The MSCHE accredits schools in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East.
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges: Look to the NEASC for accreditation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont and 138 American/International schools in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools This accrediting body is responsible for Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Navajo Nation, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- Northwest Commission of Schools and Colleges One of the smallest accrediting agencies, the NWCCU deals with colleges in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Check out the WASC website for accreditation information about colleges in California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Palau, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Marshall Islands, and other Australasian locations.
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: The SACS maintains the accreditation standards for schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and international schools in the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Other Accrediting Agencies
Aside from regional accreditation, there are numerous other forms of accreditation out there for online schools. Some of the more common national and specialized agencies are:
- Distance Education and Training Council: The DETC specializes in the accreditation of distance education institutions nationwide.
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools: This non-profit agency is recognized by the USDOE and the CHEA and accredits institutions of higher education through the master’s degree level.
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology: Through this agency, non-university post-secondary schools can gain accreditation.
- Council on Occupational Education: Schools that focus on non-degree and associate’s degree programs in career and technical studies should be accredited by the COE.
These major accrediting bodies are great places to look for schools that offer online courses in your area. Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that just because your school doesn’t hold accreditation from one of the major agencies doesn’t mean it isn’t worth attending. While these accreditation sources are great, there are a number of more specialized forms of accreditation that can be much more important to a particular degree program.