Understanding Accreditation And Why It Matters
Researching online education programs is equally exciting and intimidating. The sheer volume of options and the differences between them can be overwhelming. That’s especially true if you have no context for terms like “accredited.” Accredited colleges undergo intense review processes to receive accreditation. That’s why colleges, both online and in-person, often advertise the fact that they’re accredited. However, you’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered whether accreditation even matters.
After all, all online programs are the same, right? Unfortunately, they’re not all the same, and accredited programs typically offer much better experiences in many ways. Follow along as we explore the importance of accreditation in online education and highlight its many benefits.
The Importance Of Accreditation In Online Education
There is a reason why accredited colleges make it known that they have received accreditation. It’s hard to miss this information when you research colleges, whether you plan to take remote or in-person courses. The reason is that becoming accredited takes a lot of work, and that’s why accredited colleges are highly regarded.
However, that doesn’t negate the value of unaccredited online education programs. They offer great opportunities to people looking to earn a degree, save money, and enter the workforce. That said, accreditation is important and desirable for many reasons, such as:
Quality Control
The process of becoming accredited involves a lot of scrutiny. That is why people view accredited colleges in a different light than unaccredited colleges. This doesn’t mean that unaccredited colleges are bad, but accreditation is universally viewed positively.
Accreditation ensures quality control, which typically indicates a college is worth attending. The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation accredit colleges, among other institutions. Some organizations accredit colleges based on majors, such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
These well-respected institutions use several important criteria to accredit colleges. They consider the educational and administrative qualities of colleges under review. Other criteria, such as resources and faculty, play a role in accreditation. Such criteria ensure that only high-quality colleges can become accredited.
Making Advanced Education More Attainable
You’re not alone if you plan to earn a bachelor’s degree online and pursue an advanced degree later. However, online and in-person schools alike may not accept your application if your degree didn’t come from an accredited college. This can hold you back from pursuing a degree that can unlock incredible professional opportunities.
Not only is that disappointing, but it can also affect your future livelihood. That’s a big part of why pursuing accredited online education programs is so important. The last thing you want to do is find out that other academic institutions won’t recognize your hard work.
Gainful Employment
It’s no secret that employers take great interest in a candidate’s academic career. Naturally, having a degree from an accredited college goes a long way in padding a resume. That’s especially true in the competitive job market we have today.
For example, the difference between unaccredited and accredited law schools includes career options. That’s partly why you don’t typically hear about iconic law unaccredited law schools. This also contributes to why accredited colleges often have competitive admissions processes.
Today, finding accredited online education programs is easier than ever. A degree from an accredited college can help you get a job, whether your courses are online or in-person.
Program Versatility
Accredited colleges often offer a wide array of courses and programs to consider. This gives students more options than many unaccredited colleges offer. However, that doesn’t mean that unaccredited online colleges have limited course options.
That said, it’s hard to find an accredited online college that doesn’t boast a diverse, impressive list of programs. The ability to choose between many majors and courses can open the door to incredible opportunities. This is especially true if you aren’t dead set on a career path quite yet.
A versatile course and major list can open the door to career paths you haven’t yet considered. This can ultimately change your future as you may take a course that sparks an idea for a new calling in life. That is one of many unexpected luxuries that come with accredited online colleges.
Rewarding Curriculum
An unchallenging curriculum may seem ideal, but it simply doesn’t do much to help your future. Accredited online programs often offer a curriculum that is equally challenging and rewarding. After all, how much can you learn from an easy course?
The more challenging your course is, the more disciplined you’ll become. Granted, this doesn’t mean that accredited online college courses are punishingly difficult. However, they typically maintain a nice balance of being challenging and engaging.
The more engaged you are, the more easily you can overcome the challenges. Coming out of an accredited program should mean that you picked up new skills and knowledge. That is something you can count on when going through an accredited online education program.
Consider The Value That Accredited Programs Offer
Seeing the word “accredited” can tell you a lot about an online education program. First, you’ll know that the academic institution has received the stamp of approval from well-respected organizations. Second, you can confidently assume that the courses and majors are engaging, challenging, and rewarding.
The benefits of having a degree from an accredited online college are invaluable and worth the hard work. Keep that in mind if you feel torn between the countless online programs available, both accredited and unaccredited.
Source link
