How Does Online College Accreditation Work?

While the U.S. hosts more than 4,000 colleges and universities across its 50 states, not all schools are created equal.

Accreditation functions as an evaluative process and an institutional designation, ensuring that schools meet certain educational standards agreed upon by federal, state, and/or non-governmental agencies.

Schools that lack proper accreditation offer no guarantee of adequate academic or professional preparation, and their credits may not transfer to accredited institutions.

This page offers a general overview of college accreditation, including major accrediting agencies, types of accreditation, the importance of attending a properly accredited school, and strategies for spotting fraudulently accredited institutions.

Proper accreditation is particularly important for online programs. While distance education offers convenience and flexibility for online learners, it can also help fraudulent or unreputable institutions appear more legitimate through their online appearance.

Additionally, proper accreditation can affect your educational outlook in several ways, including financial aid eligibility, credit transferability, and employment prospects.

The academic and professional standards enforced by accrediting agencies provide a reasonable guarantee of receiving a quality education with adequate institutional support services.

A school that lacks proper accreditation may not prepare graduates to succeed in the workforce or for further academic study.

Accreditation ensures a school provides a high-quality education. Without accreditation, employers may have trouble determining whether a candidate received an adequate education. Consequently, many employers only recognize degrees from accredited institutions.

Financial aid is a common concern for most college students, and accreditation can directly affect your eligibility to receive federal aid.

Only students enrolled at schools that hold accreditation from an organization recognized by the Department of Education (ED) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are eligible to receive federal aid.

Credit transferability is another distinguishing factor between accredited and non-accredited colleges. Accreditation standards ensure that most credits transfer easily between accredited institutions across the country.

Non-accredited colleges offer no guarantee of credit transferability. This can affect your ability to transfer to another college or enroll in a graduate program.

Accreditation breaks down into two major categories: institutional and programmatic. Institutional accreditation assesses a college’s overall ability to establish and meet academic standards. An institutional accreditation agency typically evaluates several aspects of a college, including its academics, finances, governance and administration, overall mission, and available resources.

Programmatic accreditation generally focuses on individual programs, departments, or academic schools that function as part of a larger institution. Given their specialized nature, programmatic accreditation agencies usually focus on one academic discipline, such as nursing or counseling. However, not all academic fields or specialties boast a relevant specialized accreditation organization.

In the past, many public and private four-year institutions received accreditation from regional accrediting bodies. Regional accreditation was considered the gold standard, and these organizations worked to ensure high-quality education in specific geographical areas.

There were also national accrediting bodies, reserved primarily for trade schools, Bible colleges, and for-profit colleges. In many circles, this type of recognition was considered substandard to regional accreditation. However, in 2019, the ED began permitting accrediting bodies to compete in each other’s historical regions, essentially removing the distinction between national and regional accreditors.

As the popularity of online programs has increased, so too has the number of fake accrediting agencies. Fortunately, the ED and CHEA provide databases of legitimate accreditation organizations. When searching either of these databases, look for institutional and programmatic accreditation — these are the two main types of recognized accrediting bodies.

Online programs generally receive accreditation from the same agencies that evaluate on-campus programs, including institutional and programmatic agencies. While programmatic accreditation can vary widely, institutional accreditation remains one of the most consistent markers of a college’s reputability.

A quick search on the U.S Department of Education’s accreditation database can help students determine a school’s accreditation status. To ensure that you attend a top school, look for approval from one of the following agencies:

Fake accreditation agencies attempt to appear legitimate, often using names similar to real agencies and including reputable schools on their list of members. However, a bit of research can usually help you identify a fraudulent agency.

Both the ED and the CHEA maintain searchable databases of recognized accreditation agencies. If a college’s listed accreditation agency doesn’t appear in either of these databases, you should be wary of trusting the school or accreditation agency.

The country’s top accredited online schools offer a comprehensive education, preparing graduates to succeed professionally.

Check out our ranking of the best accredited online colleges to find schools that combine strong academic programs, extensive support services, and valuable career resources for students and alumni.