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What do national and regional accreditation really mean?

By degreeeditor

The way U.S. colleges and universities are accredited doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. But you need to understand it. If you don’t, your investment in a college degree can turn out to be worth very little.

check accreditation on any degree programAccreditation is the “stamp of approval” employers want to see on a school, or sometimes on a particular degree program. It’s also the main measuring stick you need to live up to if you want to transfer from one college to another. Just to make things confusing, however, there are some degree paths where accreditation doesn’t matter at all.

Old School

The reason accreditation is so confusing is that there’s no national system that governs it. It’s handled by a mishmash of independent agencies that have evolved gradually since they 1700’s, when the first one was established in New York State. Today the main accreditors alternately cooperate and compete against each other, with some getting into occasional arguments about their practices with the U.S. Department of Education. But a key reason accreditation isn’t going away is that schools need it, because it’s required for student grants or for loans from the federal government.

You definitely want to learn about this before choosing an online or traditional college – not after you’ve completed your degree. There are three basic levels of accreditation to understand.

Regional Accreditation And It’s Variants

The closest thing to a national accreditation watchdog is the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). But it only oversees groups that give accreditation – it doesn’t handle the job directly. If you’re like most college applicants, you may assume that national accreditation is probably better than regional. But in the weird world of American higher ed, that’s not so. Regional accreditation from one of the CHEA approved agencies is the most highly prized type. It’s given to “academically oriented” schools that give bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate level degrees. (more below on other types of accreditation for professional training programs) Generally, you can assume that an employer won’t doubt the basic quality of your degree if your school is accredited by one of these six regionals (click on + to see a list of states served by each) :

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Accredits online and campus-based programs of associate's degrees and above in:
Delaware
The District of Columbia
Maryland
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
The Virgin Islands

The New England Commission of Higher Education

Accredits bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and associate's degree-granting institutions in:
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Acccredits postsecondary degree-granting educational institutions in:
Alaska
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Washington

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Accredits degree-granting institutions of higher education in:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Latin America

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Accredits schools ovvering the baccalaureate degree or above in:
California
Hawaii
Guam
American Samoa
Micronesia
Palau
Northern Marianas Islands

The Higher Learning Commission – Originally the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Accredits degree granting institutions in:
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
New Mexico
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Dakota
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

A few pure online schools do, by the way, have regional accreditation if their programs meet key standards. Although they have no campuses, they are accredited in the state where their headquarters is located (Click list below of online-only and for-profit schools with regional accreditation).

Beyond The Regional Colleges Accreditors

When you look past these old line regional accreditors, things get confusing very fast. A host of new accrediting agencies have risen in the past few decades as changes in college education – particularly the rise of online accredited courses – have disrupted old teaching models. The changes have caused heated debates among educators, accreditors and the Department of Education about the quality of schools. New learning models have also run into frequent resistance from college professors and administrators who basically don’t want to see their jobs disrupted by any type of change. At the same time, however, there have been real problems of for-profit colleges and diploma mills being started up by hucksters and trying to fool prospective students and the accreditors alike about the quality of their programs.

National Accreditation

There are several national accreditors that generally approve schools focused career training – which includes many online and for-profit schools. Whether or not a nationally accredited school is adequate for you depends on how high your career aspirations are. Nationally accredited schools are not the Harvard Universities of this world (Harvard, by the way, is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education). The most sophisticated employers may look down on schools with national accreditation. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get hired by many small to mid-sized employers with a nationally accredited degree. Nationally accredited school have to conform to certain academic standards and are far more desirable than schools with no accreditation at all.

The biggest national accreditor is the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) which, as the name implies, focuses on online degree schools. DEAC grew out of a company that approved home correspondence courses way back in the 1920’s. It has the approval of both the Department of Education and the CHEA (which oversees the respected regional accreditors), but there have been off and on debates in academia about whether or not it’s standards are stringent enough. It now accredits over 100 for-profit and nonprofit schools around the world. Schools accredited by DEAC run the gamut from fairly well-known names like American Sentinal University and Grantham to distinctly lesser-known institutions like The University of the People and The National Tax Training School.

Accrediting Council Troubles

The second best known national accreditor is Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), which accredits many for-profit schools. ACICS has actually been around since 1912, but in recent years it’s had a turbulent history. The Department of Education revoked it’s recognition during the Obama administration, only to give it back during the Trump administration. The pendulum seems to be swinging back against ACICS recently. In January of 2021, a key committee of the U.S. Department of Education recommended that ACICS’s authority be revoked again. The story is clearly to be continued. But it’s safe to say that accreditation from this agency is not the gold standard.

Transferring From A Nationally Accredited School

A big hazard to be aware of is that if you take some courses at a nationally accredited school and then want to transfer from a regionally accredited one, it will probably be a challenge getting all your credits accepted in transfer. But it’s not impossible. CHEA has actually recommended recently that “Ins”itutions…need to assure that transfer decisions are not made solely on the source of accreditation of a sending program.” What that means in plain English is that if you’re trying to jump to a regionally accredited school, you have a strong chance of getting credits accepted if you make a real effort to get your new school to focus on the exact content and quality of each course you took at your nationally accredited school.

Graduate Degrees

Applying for a graduate or post graduate degree can present a particularly sticky problem. If you’re going for an MBA or any other type of master’s program at a regionally accredited school, your entire bachelor degree may not be accepted if it’s from a nationally accredited school. That, obviously, is a disaster you’d like to avoid.

Programmatic and Professional Accreditation

There are “programmatic” accrediting agencies that focus on specific types of degree programs – usually those that lead to some type of professional certification. You should be aware that in many professional areas, you will absolutely have to get a degree from a school with the right accreditation if you want to take your professional certification test.

Among the best known examples or programmatic accreditors are The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), two highly respected groups that accredit college nursing programs. You must have a nursing degree from a school accredited by one of these to qualify for the NCLEX exams to be a nurse. There are programmatic accreditors in all sorts of other professional categories, though the health and education fields have the most . Some interesting examples:

  • Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education – (ACME)
  • Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation (ABHE)
  • Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI)
  • Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)
  • National Association of Schools of Theatre Commission on Accreditation (NAST)
  • Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)
  • National Association of Schools of Dance Commission on Accreditation (NASD)
  • Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT)
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Different Accreditation Rules For Professional Degrees

It’s not necessarily bad if a professional-type program doesn’t have regional accreditation from a CHEA-approved agency. In fact many accreditors in the education field are not even approved by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are considering a degree in a professional area, you need to spend some time researching what the standards are for certification and getting hired in your particular career category. Here’s a full list of programmatic accrediting agencies in the U.S.. If you want to do a really deep dive on this subject, the U.S. Department of Education’s massive database of schools and accrediting agencies it approves is here.

Where Accreditation Doesn’t Matter At All

There has been a rise of training programs, mostly in computer coding, where hiring employers frankly don’t care if your program was accredited or not. These coding academies or “bootcamps” focus only on job skills and don’t provide the broader education of a bachelor’s or even and associate’s degree. Virtually none of them have any type of accreditation. But most require some type of state-level approval to obtain a license to operate.
The two best ways to figure out if a coding boot camp is good are:

  • Find some people in the business and ask for their guidance.
  • Ask the admissions person for the coding school lots of questions about exactly which platforms you will be studying, what certificate of completion you will get at the end of the program, and how much professional support you will get both during the program and after graduation.

The demand for coders is high and many of the coding schools have excellent reputations. It’s up to you to ask around and do other research to figure out which one is right for you.

Accreditation Can Be Key To A Good Job

The most sophisticated employers won’t take your degree very seriously if it’s a non-accredited institution. If you want to feel comfortable walking into a job interview after finishing your degree, you absolutely want to go to an accredited college, whether it’s online or ground-based. Find out more here on whether or not an employer will take your online diploma seriously.

List Of Online Schools With Regional Accreditation

Some people assume that the large online schools don’t have the high-quality regional accreditation that old colleges and universities have. That’s not necessarily true. Here’s a list of examples of widely recognized institutions that are either partly or entirely online, including some for-profit schools, that have regional accreditation.

  • American InterContinental University System
  • Argosy University
  • Benedictine University
  • California University of Pennsylvania
  • Capella University
  • Colorado State University
  • Colorado Technical University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Keiser University
  • Liberty University
  • Northcentral University
  • Post University
  • Purdue University Global
  • South University
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • University of Phoenix
  • Walden University
  • Western Governors University

Filed Under: Blog

If You Start an MBA Now, The Post-Covid Economy Could Be Very Good To You

By degreeeditor

That’s the message of a marketwatch article today, which says that those who emerge from graduate school with a business degree in 2023 are almost sure to be looking at a post-pandemic economy. MBA holders should do fantastically well after coronavirus passesIn that environment, companies that have slimmed down during the health crisis will be hungry for job candidates familiar with utilizing data analysis, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other knowledge areas being taught in most MBA programs today. Marketwatch says the starting salaries for business schools grads from quality universities already average above $150,000. per year and could go higher in the coming years. MBA grads, it adds, come out of school with “the ability to assess and bear sensible risks,” a skill which “is the core of business and entrepreneurship.”

Filed Under: MBA

Use our easy degree finder to get free info on a program that fits your career plans

By degreeeditor

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Largest Universities with Online Forensic Psychology Masters

By degreeeditor

Is it best to get look at the largest universities if you’re considering an online master’s in forensic psychology? There’s no rule that says bigger schools are always better. But because forensic psych, which sometimes goes under a name like “law and behavioral science” or simply “legal psychology,” is a highly specialized degree, it can be hard to find many small, respected schools that offer it, particularly in an online format. Most practitioners in this specialty work in non-clinical jobs, helping to analyze criminal activity and testify about it in court cases, or making it easier for enforcement professionals to deal with issues that arise in the jail system. Forensic psychologists sometimes act as expert witnesses in court.

Why Look For A Larger Online School?

Larger schools tend to have the biggest technology budgets, and that can be valuable in terms of offering the latest apps for communicating with professors, working collaboratively with other students or simply taking classes that are delivered through high quality video and other media. In many cases, they also tend to have the widest name recognition, which can affect how much your psychology degree is respected by potential employers. Here’s a look at some of the very largest schools with forensic psych grad degrees online:

Walden University
Walden is a widely recognized school that’s long been known for its online programs. It is accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission. In addition to it’s many PhD degree programs, it has a particularly strong offering in forensic psychology degrees online:
– MS in Forensic Psychology – Criminal Justice
– MS in Forensic Psychology – Cybercrimes
– MS in Forensic Psychology – Terrorism
– MS in Forensic Psychology – Sex Offender Behavior
– MS in Forensic Psychology – Military
– MS in Forensic Psychology – Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology
Plus several other forensic psychology graduate degrees and other programs in psychology, healthcare administration and many other specialties.
Get Free Info on Walden University’s Online Programs

Purdue University Global
A very large public non-profit online university with about 29,000 students. It offers over 175 online programs including associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees and certificates. The forensics masters program teaches how to use evidence-based concepts of forensic psych to be used in courtroom or civic law environments.
Career paths with the degree are generally focused around corrections, victim advocacy, criminal profiling and jury selection.
The cost per quarter credit hour for Purdue master’s programs in psychology is $420. Active military or veterans pay less.
There are significant financial aid options available, depending on need and eligibility.
Graduates of Purdue bachelor programs can get a reduction of up to 20% off the cost of their masters’s program.
Forensics is just one of the specialties it offers psychology master’s degrees in:
https://www.elearners.com/a/successdegrees/form/8437
– MSPY Forensic Psychology, plus many other master’s degrees.
– BS in Criminal Justice – Forensic Psychology
Click for Free Info on Purdue University Global

Liberty University
Liberty is a private university with 17 different colleges, where the vast majority of its 100,000 students do all study online. It’ degree programs are about half undergraduate and half post graduate. In 2018, US News ranked it as the largest university in America based on total enrollment. Degree offerings online include:
Master of Science in Criminal Justice – Forensic Psychology
Also offers many other master’s and doctoral degrees in criminal justice, psychology, business administration and other specialties.
Learn More About Liberty University

Grand Canyon University
A large private school offering online degrees at a relatively moderate price for a school with strong name recognition across the country. Grand Canyon has about 90,000 students total, and offers bachelors and masters degrees in varied specialties. The schools master’s focused on forensic psychology teaches techniques to reduce rates of crime rehabilitate criminals so that they main re-join society as productive individuals.
Grand Canyon’s Forensic Psychology Master’s Program

ASU Online (Arizona State University)
A public university with about 31,000 online students, ASU was founded in 1885 and has many famous athletes and political figures among its alumni.
Cost per credit hour ranges from $532- $1,397 for online graduate programs, both estimates include program fees.
Online Master of Science in Forensic Science (33 credit hours)

Filed Under: Psychology

Choose An Online School

By degreeeditor

online degree choicesSponsored Schools

Purdue University Global
A very large and well-known school with over 40,000 students on 11 campuses and in a large online degree program, and regional accreditation. Offers a very wide range of degrees in:
– Criminal Justice
– Education
– Health Care
– Nursing
– Computer Technology
– Information Systems
– Legal Studies
Learn more about Purdue’s degree programs

Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University is an 80 year old private school that’s become very widely known for it’s career-oriented online degree programs. As a not-for-profit, the school is under less pressure to institute big tuition hikes each year than some other schools. Many degrees are offered on an accelerated basis. SNHU offers an array of online associates and bachelors degree programs in:
– Communication
– Creative Writing
– Digital Photography
– Graphic Design
– Human Resources
– Psychology
– Criminal Justice
– Marketing
– Information Technology
Additional degrees in other subjects.
Get information on Southern New Hampshire University

Ashford University
San Diego, CA-based school, Ashford University offers a vast array of degrees online across the range from associate to bachelor and masters. Degrees available in:
– Business Management – BA & MBA in different specialties
– Early Childhood Education
– Marketing
– Health Care Studies
– Homeland Security
– Psychology
– Sports Management
Get information on Ashford’s online programs
(Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001, www.wascsenior.org.) Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.

Rasmussen College
Rasmussen is a school of about 13,000 students in an extensive online program and on 24 campuses in Florida and around the midwest. Founded in 1900, it offers a variety of career-focused associate’s and bachelor degree programs in:
– Business
– Computer Science
– Criminal Justice
– Graphic Design
– Cyber Security
– Marketing
– Health and Wellness
Additional programs in other specialties.
Get information on Rasmussen College

Grantham University
Founded in 1951 to help World War II veterans get a new start in life, Grantham is one of the earliest online-only colleges in the U.S. It’s accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), and has one of the most affordable tuition rates our research has been able to turn up. Grantham offers associates and bachelors degrees online in:
– Criminal Justice
– Business
– Computer Science
– Engineering Management Technology
– Health Systems Management
– Human Resource Management
– Also MBA and other graduate degrees
Get free info on Grantham University

American Intercontinental University
AIU, a large online school, has a low credit hour tuition, but it does require more credits than some other schools on bachelor programs. The school works very hard to keep student costs down, however, by giving credit to degree programs from up to 50% of transfers for previous coursework at another school, and in some cases actually giving 75% credit. That’s unusual. AIU offers associates’s degrees in Business and Criminal Justice, as well as online bachelor degree programs in:
– Business (many specialties)
– Accounting
– Computers & Information Technology
– Healthcare Management
– Criminal Justice (many specialties)
Get info on American Intercontinental University

Filed Under: Offer Page

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Sponsored Schools Ashford University San Diego, CA-based school, Ashford University offers a vast array of online degrees across the range from associate to bachelor and masters. Degrees available in: - Business Management - BA & MBA in different specialties - Early Childhood Education - Marketing - Health Care Studies - Homeland Security - Psychology - Sports Management Get information on Ashford's online programs (Ashford University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001, www.wascsenior.org.) Certain degree programs may not be available in all states. Purdue University Global A very large and well-known school with over 40,000 students on 11 campuses and in a large online degree program, and regional accreditation. Offers a very wide range of degrees in: - Criminal Justice - Education - Health Care - Nursing - Computer Technology - Information Systems - Legal Studies Learn more about Purdue Global's degree programs transfer to Trident at American Intercontinental University Trident at American Intercontinental University is a private for-profit online university based in Cypress, California. It is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission - North Central Association of colleges. Trident focuses on bachelor's degrees online: - BSBA Business Administration - BSCS Computer Sciences - BSHA Health Administration or Health Sciences - BSHLS Homeland Security - BSHRM Human Resources Management - BSITM Information Technology - BSL Leadership Get information on Trident at AIU

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