How does an institution get accredited?

There is a general misunderstanding that the U.S. Department of Education accredits educational institutions and/or programs. In fact, the Secretary of Education approves a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies which are used as reliable authorities able to accredit universities, educational programs and various degrees.

Accreditation by one of the recognized accrediting agencies is a considered similar to a review of an institution's education programs with the purpose of helping people to determine if the learning offered by the select institution is of a uniform and sound quality. Accreditation also allows employers to verify if their employees have a high level of education as stated in the degree. This is why accredited degrees are much more important for any company and you should always make sure you pick an accredited university when you look for your PhD, master’s degree or bachelor’s degree.

Why is accredited online education important?

Accreditation is a form of value recognition and many universities use this as a measure of prestige. Knowing you graduated an accredited course and you have an accredited degree is reassuring for both you and your employer, because it means the education was done at a proper level and it is useful for market’s requirements.

Online education is a popular choice for many people because it is much easier to get an online master’s degree or even an online bachelor’s degree, but you need to make sure it is at the same level with a regular one. This is why accreditation of an online degree is very important, because it assures this level of trust and value. You can verify if the institution you wish to get your online master’s degree from is accredited on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

Also, knowing your degree is accredited in the U.S. is a first step for worldwide accreditation. Many people want an online international degree because it gives much more opportunities for employment.

Accredited universities to choose for online degrees:

There are many accredited universities in the U.S., but here are a few popular choices for online degrees and certifications: