Are you considering earning your college degree online? But not sure how you can tell if the university offering the degree is legit?
Online courses and online degree programs continue to grow in popularity. But just because they’re popular, and just because the name of the university sounds cool, doesn’t necessarily make them legitimate.
On the other hand, just because you haven’t heard of a university doesn’t mean it isn’t completely legit.
The Internet has transformed the way students learn and the way you can earn a degree. You can earn a degree from virtually any university in the United States without ever setting foot on campus. But that means you have to make sure the time, effort, and money you put into earning your college degree is worth it.
So how can you tell if the university offering the degree is legit?
When verifying the accreditation of the university.
Make sure the college you are considering is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the US Department of Education. These agencies award public and private universities their accreditation.
Unfortunately, there are many accrediting agencies that are not “official”. And while colleges accredited by these unofficial agencies can still provide you with a quality education, you won’t be able to get federal financial aid or transfer your credits to an officially accredited college. And some employers may not accept the degree and therefore may not hire you.
These are the six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the US Department of Education. If your university is on the list, pull out the books and start studying!
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Accredits schools in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) Accredits schools in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
- Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSCHE) Accredits schools in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands.
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Accredits schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accredits schools in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Rim.
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) Accredits schools in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.