Basic Guidelines to Choosing an Online School
From online elementary schools to online grad schools, thousands of online schools have cropped up across the US and Canada in the past 25 years - some good and some not so much. And, while there are a lot of excellent online colleges and universities that are fully accredited and qualified to provide quality undergraduate and degree programs, there are also quite a few diploma mills that will issue unimpressive credentials not worth a second glance. The choices can be overwhelming, so let's start with some basic guidelines to choosing the right online school.
First and foremost, whether you are researching online colleges and universities, or traditional, campus-based colleges, you should be sure to verify that your school is accredited by an agency recognized by either the United States Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or both. Schools that are accredited by these agencies must pass the same rigorous criteria as campus-based schools, and their educational worth is assured if they carry these credentials.
There are also regional accrediting agencies that can add value to your diploma or degree from an online school. Even though online studies can theoretically be accessed from any state, the school you choose will necessarily have a physical base that is housed in a particular state, and there are several agencies that are authorized to accredit online colleges and universities by region. These regional accrediting agencies would include the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges, Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.
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University of Phoenix
At University of Phoenix, we believe everyone deserves access to higher education.
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DeVry University
Career-focused education for real‐world results.
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Virginia College
Set your career in motion at Virginia College Online.
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Westwood College
Westwood College is an institution of higher learning dedicated to providing quality, career-focused undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to launch, enhance, or change careers.
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Ultimate Medical Academy Online
Boost your career with an education from Ultimate Medical Academy Online.
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Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
Explore a new direction with Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.
Programs Offered:- Holistic Nutrition Specialist – 100 Hr Certificate of Excellence- Online
- Homeopathy – 100 Hr Certificate of Excellence - Online
- Hypnotherapy – 100 Hr Certificate of Excellence - Online
- Life Coaching – 100 Hr Certificate of Excellence - Online
- Hypnotherapy - 20 Hr Cont. Education & Personal Dev. - Online