List of Online Colleges by Accreditation

Accreditation is arguably one of the most important factors to consider when you're choosing a college or university. It's an invaluable form of quality assurance, and schools that meet accreditation standards are proven to offer quality programs, provide high-caliber resources and services, and operate in an ethically and financially responsible manner. All of the schools on our website are accredited online colleges, so you can trust in their value and authenticity.

Types of Accreditation

It is important to note that not all accreditation is equal. There are accrediting agencies on the institutional and national levels, as well as other agencies that focus on specific academic disciplines or institutions. Some schools and programs are even accredited by more than one type of agency.

Institutional Accreditation

Institutional accreditation is the most prestigious form of recognition. In the U.S., there are six recognized accrediting agencies. Prior to 2019, each agency was limited to reviewing institutions within its assigned region. Today, these agencies primarily review schools in their original regions but are allowed to work with schools in any location.

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
• Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)

National Accreditation

There are several accrediting agencies that recognize schools across the country. These national agencies typically work with trade or vocational schools, faith-based institutions, and some online-only schools. While the U.S. Department of Education does not review online schools, it does maintain a list of accrediting bodies that it recognizes. Some of the most well-known national accreditors include:

• Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
• Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
• Council on Occupational Education (COE)

Hybrid Accreditation

Hybrid accrediting agencies set standards for specialized programs at both freestanding institutions and large institutions. The following hybrid accrediting agencies review programs and units within vocational or specialized schools and postsecondary institutions:

• Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (CAATS)
• National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
• Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)

Programmatic Accreditation

Also known as professional or specialized accreditation, programmatic accreditation is designed for specialized colleges, schools, programs, or departments within an institution or university that has already received accreditation. These agencies look for specific aspects of a program or department that set it apart from others. They also confirm that programs are educating students to meet relevant industry standards. Examples include:

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• American Bar Association (ABA)
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
• Council on Academic Accreditation - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CAA)

There are more than 40 specialized accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in the following categories: healthcare, personal care and services, community and social services, legal studies, education training, and arts and humanities. According to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), programmatic accreditation extends to approximately 19,000 programs across the U.S.

How Schools and Programs Become Accredited

According to the U.S. Department of Education, accreditation is not only a status but a process as well. Obtaining institutional accreditation is neither easy nor quick, particularly for educational institutions seeking approval for the very first time.

However, while the main purpose of accreditation is to demonstrate proof of a legitimate school, some universities gain important benefits themselves through accreditations. For example, accreditation can help online colleges demonstrate the quality of their programs and services, which may help them attract the best students.

The following describes the basic steps in the accreditation process for schools, whether on-campus or online. Individual programs within a college undergo the same process but on a smaller scale focused mainly on curriculum, learning objectives, and faculty.

The Importance of Accreditation for Students

If you're a prospective college student, you have likely spent some time comparing various programs and schools in your college search. Knowing the accreditation status of each institution you're interested in can help you select the best accredited online colleges for your chosen field of study. There are also several other reasons why accreditation matters:

Fraudulent Accreditation Agencies

Verifying that an institution is accredited is an excellent way to ensure that a student is not enrolling in a "diploma mill" that offers subpar education. However, it is also just as important to confirm that the agency that is accrediting a particular institution is legitimate.

CHEA and other organizations monitor accrediting agencies to ensure that they are providing adequate reviews of schools and degree programs. According to CHEA, some schools falsify their accreditation status by seeking accreditation from a fraudulent agency. Unauthorized agencies appear to provide accreditation but do not have the authority or means to do so, and they do not demand the high standards required by approved agencies. It's also possible for a school to claim accreditation from an agency that doesn't actually exist.

Here are several questions that CHEA has created to help identify potential diploma mill schools:

• Are there few requirements for graduation?
• Does the school allow degrees to be purchased?
• Does the school make claims for which it has no evidence?
• Are there any, or few, standards for quality that are published by the accrediting agency or organization?

If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, the school's accreditation status may be fraudulent. Be sure to check both a school's website and the CHEA or U.S. Department of Education websites to confirm that the school is accredited by an authorized agency. A degree from a diploma mill may not be recognized by employers, state licensing agencies, or master's or doctorate programs.