As more and more students turn to online education in 2021, choosing the best online school involves many facets of which accreditation is one of the most vital. Accreditation shows that a particular institution provides the best opportunities and resources for its students. It also shows that a school has submitted its standards to rigorous analysis by accrediting bodies which make the school nationally and/or regionally academically recognized in their discipline.
Often, regional accreditation can be just as important as national accreditation when choosing an accredited online school. Some regional accreditation institutes have a higher reputation and are often used by non-profit colleges and universities. Regional accreditation ensures an easy transfer of credits between schools.
When searching for the right online school, it is important that students seek out an institution and program that has received recognition by accreditation commissions. This will give them the assurance that they are receiving the best available, nationally and regionally recognized training in their discipline. These best of 2021 accredited online schools will give a boost to any search for one of these recognized institutions.
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Methodology:
Here, we have compiled a list of the Top Accredited Online Colleges that offer quality degree coursework. Of course, our website is only one step in preparing you for your journey towards selecting an online college that is the right fit for you. Visiting each schools’ website yourself and requesting information to be sent directly to you for your review is highly recommended. The following schools were selected, in random order, based on:
- Qualifies as a properly accredited establishment,
- Ensures a quality educational experience,
- Offers exceptional and comprehensive coursework pursuant to accreditation requirements,
- Displays rigorous academic stipulations relevant to online distance learning accreditation mandates,
- Provides proper ease of credit transfers,
- Awards Financial Aid through a properly accredited degree program,
- Ensures the best-of-the-best in quality teachers for each program,
- Maintains accreditation requirements.
Proper accreditation is important! Most school websites have a link to their accreditation page. Be sure to check it out before signing on to an online distance learning program, for it will tell you their regional accreditation status, as well as other mandates applicable to each individual degree program.
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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
This fine online school has been recognized again and again for its achievements as an academic institution. Liberty University gives its students a fabulous array of resources, which they have the opportunity to take advantage of throughout their academic and professional careers. This highly respected school provides its students with numerous outlets and programs within their degree to further refine their skills and prepare them for challenging job markets.
Accreditations:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- National Association of Schools of Music
- Commission on Sports Management Education
Available Degrees: Liberty University offers online associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, certificates, and doctoral degree programs in a litany of areas.
Acceptance Rate: 22%
Graduation Rate: 52.1%
Course Flexibility:
Liberty University takes great care and responsibility over its many available online degree programs. Keeping curricula consistently updated to offer the most relevant education possible, LU students learn in diverse and highly manageable, yet challenging, virtual classes.
LEARN MORE ABOUT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAMS.
Benefits of Institution:
Regent University has been ranked as one of the country’s very finest online institutions by highly reputable journalistic resources such as US News and World Report. According to their website, “Regent is recognized nationally as one of only 22 universities in the U.S. to receive an “A” rating by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.”
Accreditations:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
- American Bar Association
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association
- Teacher Education Accreditation Council
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
- National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
Available Degrees: Over 60 associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, and a huge number of master’s and PhD degree programs which draw from 7 different schools within the university.
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Graduation Rate: 78%
Course Flexibility:
This prestigious online school provides its students with fabulous resources upon which they can rely throughout their academic and professional careers. Glowing student reviews endorse this school’s meticulous attention to individual online students in one of their dozens of programs. Students are free to work at their own pace and can complete individual courses in as little as eight weeks.
LEARN MORE ABOUT REGENT UNIVERSITY’S ACCREDITED DISTANCE LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
This schools operates in partnership with other institutions, and offers students a copious amount of tools and resource to follow the most beneficial academic path possible. According to a recent Student Satisfaction Survey, 96% of students were “very satisfied with the overall experience.”
Accreditations:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- American Psychological Association
- Engineering Accreditation Commission
- Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission
- American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation
- National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Council on Education for Public Health
Available Degrees: This school offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as doctorate, licensure/endorsement, and certificate programs.
Acceptance Rate: 81.9%
Graduation Rate: 23.6% (after 2-4 years); 51.6% (after 4 years)
Course Flexibility:
Student experiences at ODU online communicate the level of cooperation between students and the institution, and how well these complex degree programs fit into hectic professional and personal schedules. This school delivers an unmatched quality of online education!
LEARN MORE ABOUT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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PENN STATE WORLD CAMPUS
Benefits of Institution:
Penn State World Campus is included on an innumerable amount of online program lists, and maintains an incredibly high ranking as one of the finest online academic schools available. This school offers over 125 accredited degrees.
Accreditations:
- Middles States Commission on Higher Education
For information about specialized accreditation for individual programs, navigate to the program of choice by following the link below, or clicking here.
Available Degrees: This school offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as numerous certificates and minors.
Acceptance Rate: 71%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Course Flexibility:
Penn State World Campus’ many schools are well-accredited and recognized by numerous journalistic institutions and provides with many different paths through which to complete a degree or certification. PSWC takes great care in providing students with beneficial financial aid and payment programs, as well as tuition discounts, making this an incredibly affordable school as well.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PENN STATE WORLD CAMPUS’ ACCREDITED ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
Southern New Hampshire University is a massively popular online school, and is continuously recognized for its achievements in academia. This reputable school offers “more than 200 career-focused online college degrees and certificates and one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation.”
Accreditations:
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Available Degrees: SNHU offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as certificate opportunities, in over 200 different “career-focused” areas.
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Course Flexibility:
At this prominent online school, students have the support of extremely dedicated admissions, academic, and career advisors, as well as faculty members that bring real-world experience to the virtual classroom. In any one of the hundreds of options students have, they will graduate with strong networking connections, a well-founded education, and a bright future.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY’S DISTANCE ACCREDITED LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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CAPELLA UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
One of the finest online schools in the country, Capella University has received a litany of awards and recognitions for its outstanding curricula and dedication to student service. Capella University works closely with individual online students to ensure that their personal education conforms to their specific career goals.
Accreditations: Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Available Degrees: Capella University offers bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD/doctoral degree programs, as well as certificate programs.
Graduation Rate: unavailable
Course Flexibility:
Capella University offers its students both synchronous and asynchronous coursework formats, depending on whichever method is most appropriate. The school also offers a FlexPath Self-Paced Learning option, allowing students to work as slowly or as quickly as they need to, depending on the difficulty of the course as well as other factors. FlexPath is only available for select programs.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CAPELLA UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ACCREDITED DISTANCE LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
Time and time again, Arizona State University has been included on lists of the absolute best online schools in the country. ASU takes enormous care to ensure that each individual distance education student receives not only a challenging degree program, but an exciting virtual academic experience. Students can rely on affordable tuition rates and a unique array of majors and specialization options.
Accreditations:
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
- National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board
- Additional Technology Transfer Center
- National Board for Certified Counselors
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- National Society of Professional Engineers and National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
- National Association of State Boards of Geology
- American Society of Interior Designers
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards
- Association of Social Work Boards
Available Degrees: ASU offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as a large array of certificate programs.
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Graduation Rate: 63.4%
Course Flexibility:
This leading, highly respected, national online school gives students complete control of their academic future, while guiding and assisting them throughout their challenges inside and outside of the virtual classroom. This peerless institution delivers a thrilling academic experience for all.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY’S ACCREDITED ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
This private, Christian, well-accredited school delivers an unparalleled level of student service and education. The many different colleges and schools within the university give students the opportunity to specialize their degree programs in an innumerable different unique and exciting pathways.
Accreditations:
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
- Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
- Arizona State Board of Education
- Arizona Department of Education
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission
- New Mexico Board of Nursing
Available Degrees: GCU offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as several certificate programs.
Acceptance Rate: 37%
Graduation Rate: 76.8%
Course Flexibility:
The number of emphases within each degree program and major allows students an enormous amount of flexibility, as does the asynchronous nature of the GCU online coursework. Students receive a dedicated support from faculty, advisors, and other professionals, and have exciting opportunities to take advantage of inside individual programs.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD
Benefits of Institution:
Partnering with other online schools to deliver hugely beneficial and well-rounded degree programs and certificates, the curricula at the University of Illinois Springfield provides students with exciting academic and professional opportunities. This school has been awarded many time for the many different unique facets of its programs, faculty, and resources.
Accreditations:
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Quality Initiative Project
- American Chemical Society
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- Council on Social Work Education
- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Available Degrees: UIS offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as certification programs and certificates.
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Course Flexibility:
Students in this fine school will learn in “intellectually rich, collaborative, and intimate learning environments.” Course flexibility and resources are the same for online students as on-campus students.
LEARN MORE ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD’S ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAMS ONLINE.
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WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
Western Governors University is an extremely popular online school. This prestigious purveyor of distance education reports a 98% employer satisfaction from business and institutions for which graduates work. The school has been awarded and recognized numerous times, and maintains top ranking positions in institutions such as the National Council on Teacher Quality.
Accreditations:
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management
- United States Distance Learning Association Awards
- McGraw Prize in Education
- National Council on Teacher Quality
Available Degrees: WGU offers a large number of reputable bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as renowned post-baccalaureate licensure programs and certificates.
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 40%
Course Flexibility:
The curricula at this online school provides students with self-paced flexibility and an incredibly affordable tuition that is based on time spent learning, rather than credits earned, meaning that the faster students complete coursework, the less they will ultimately pay.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY’S ACCREDITED ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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HERZING UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
At this online school, students receive close, personalized support from advisors, mentors, and faculty members, as well as a career-focused education. Students are connected with local organizations to complete internships and projects, thus receiving invaluable “real-world” experience within a virtual classroom.
Accreditations:
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Commission on Dental Accreditation
- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
Available Degrees: Herzing University offers many associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s programs, as well as several diploma and certificate programs.
Acceptance Rate: 96% – Herzing University admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin
Graduation Rate: 36%
Course Flexibility:
Herzing students are given an enormous amount of flexibility and options for completing their online coursework, and are not at all required, but certainly have the option, to connect with faculty members on one of the 11 campuses throughout the country. Students have even further opportunities within one of the more than 50 online programs available to them.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HERZING UNIVERSITY’S ACCREDITED DISTANCE LEARNING DEGEREE PROGRAMS.
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KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
Kennesaw State University offers a host of online degree and certificate programs. Students learn in a state-of-the-art Electronic Campus that acts as a “one stop access to opportunities and services designed to meet students needs!” Kennesaw has been named an “Academic Program to Look For.”
Accreditations:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- American Chemical Society
- National Association of Schools of Theater
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- National Association of Schools of Music
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Council on Social work Education
- International Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Available Degrees: Kennesaw offers bachelor’s and master’s programs, as well as multiple certificate programs, continuing education curricula, and endorsements.
Acceptance Rate: 53.7%
Graduation Rate: 51.3%
Course Flexibility:
Kennesaw students have access to an impressive array of virtual resources through which to earn a competitive degree. Utilizing highly accessible technologies and learning tools, distance education students at this school have a strong amount of control over their academic plans and pathways.
LEARN MORE ABOUT KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS ONLINE
Benefits of Institution:
Students at this online school earn incredibly respectable degrees from a renowned university, and learn from internationally recognized instructors who have won some of the world’s most prestigious awards, such as the Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize, National Book Award for Poetry, and the Draper Award for Engineering.
Accreditations:
- New England Association of Colleges and Schools
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- Computing Sciences Accreditation Board
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
- National League for Nursing
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Available Degrees: UMass Online offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates, a non-credit certificate, a continuing medical education program, and professional development programs, all of which cover a huge array of majors and specializations.
Acceptance Rate: 57.4%
Graduation Rate: 47.6%
Course Flexibility:
UMass Online has accrued an impressive amount of recognition and awards, and graduates go on to achieve fantastic career goals. The online school derives its curricula from “five strong and unique campuses” within the university system: Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and the Medical school. Students can expect rigorous academic requirements that yield a “degree of great value.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT UMASS’ ACCREDITED ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
Not only is this online school highly accredited by many well-regarded national organizations and commissions, it has been ranked by many governing bodies as one of the finest online schools for veterans and military personnel. Bellevue University has received top ranking positions for many journalistic resources.
Accreditations:
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
- Better Business Bureau
- Phi Theta Kappa
- Department of Homeland Security
- Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
Available Degrees: Bellevue University offers a huge amount bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as numerous minors and course clusters.
Acceptance Rate: unavailable
Graduation Rate: 48%
Course Flexibility:
According to their website, this school has designed complex “learning experiences that apply real world knowledge and meet the needs of busy working adults.” Bellevue students have complete control over their courses and time, and stay in close contact with other classmates and faculty members. Online students choose from several formats that will best fit their personal schedules.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY’S DISTANCE LEARNING ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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KEISER UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
Keiser University retains a huge number of accreditations for its wide variety of distance education programs. This online school provides students with a welcoming virtual community, through which they will learn though a “relevant, hands-on approach to career education.”
Accreditations:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- American Culinary Federation Inc.
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.
- Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
Available Degrees: Keiser University offers online associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as several education specialist degrees.
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Graduation Rate: 67%
Course Flexibility:
Students reviews of this school profess the convenient, yet through and engaging, nature of Keiser University online. This school prepares its students for the pressures of professional futures through complex coursework that can be completed at each student’s own individual pace, giving them the time they need to retain complicated concepts.
LEARN MORE ABOUT KEISER UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ACCREDITED DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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HODGES UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
Students at this online school gain a crucial education in which professors incorporate “experiential learning,” giving students a chance to “to go outside the classroom to receive hands-on training and experience” within their communities. Hodges’ business, healthcare, and technology curricula are particularly impressive.
Accreditations:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
- Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education
- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida
- Alliance of Educational Leaders
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Available Degrees: Hodges University offers online associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s programs, as well as a refined ESL program and certificate opportunities.
Acceptance Rate: 78.3%
Graduation Rate: 27.5%
Course Flexibility:
Students have a wide variety of coursework to look forward to at this school, which can be taken at a regular pace, or in the UPOWER Self-Paced Program in which students have unlimited course access for 6 months. Some students will have the opportunity for accelerated 7.5 week classes as opposed to the standard 15 week term.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HODGES UNIVERSITY’S ACCREDITED ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS.
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NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
This hugely accredited school offers its students an extremely wide variety of entirely online programs. This prominent distance education research university gives students an incredibly thorough academic experience that will assuredly challenge every individual.
Accreditations:
- Higher Learning Commission
- Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs – Yuma
- Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
- American Council for Construction Education
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – The W.A. Franke College of Business
- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Commission on Dental Accreditation
- Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
- Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions
- Council on Social Work Education
- Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
- National Association of Schools of Music
- Society of American Foresters
Available Degrees: NAU offers online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as undergraduate and graduate certificates and a variety of minors.
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Graduation Rate: 51.6%
Course Flexibility:
Northern Arizona University has multiple schools and multiple campuses which students can fall back on as a resource during their online education. Each student is given a vast array of technological tools and advanced programs through which they gain a wealth of information.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY’S DISTANCE EDUCATION ACCREDITED PROGRAMS.
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EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
Benefits of Institution:
East Carolina University is a highly accredited online school that gives its students a plethora of opportunities in undergraduate and graduate programs. A “national trailblazer in distance education,” ECU has state-of-the-art tools and resources available for each student.
Accreditations:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education/State Department of Public Instruction
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Educational Leadership Constituent Council
- Association for Childhood Education International
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- National Middle School Association
- American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
- Council for Exceptional Children
- American Association of School Librarians
- Association for the Advancement of Health Education/Society of Public Health Educators
Available Degrees: ECU offers online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as graduate certificates and post master’s nursing certificates, alternative teacher licensure and add-on licensure programs.
Acceptance Rate: 77.3%
Graduation Rate: 58.6%
Course Flexibility:
Students reviews profess the strength of this school’s online academic community. Students have complete control over the flow and pace of their curriculum and have a solid educational support system on which to rely throughout their challenging degree programs.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EAST CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY’S ACCREDITED ONLINE DEGREES.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does “regional accreditation” mean?
If you are spending your own hard-earned money on an education, don’t you deserve the best? Without a doubt, the proper accreditation provides you with educational excellence. With this recognition, institutions can meet the changing demands of the students, job markets, and the community.
Regional accreditation in the U.S. recognizes seven agencies representing all geographic regions. The agency states the requirements needed to deem a school properly accredited. Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), they are as follows:
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
- Middle State Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Obtaining regional accreditation is done by a college or university on a volunteer basis. It helps them to adhere to minimum requirements, as well as reach a higher goal of academic excellence. Preferably, you should look for institutions that offer “regional” accreditation, as opposed to “national” accreditation. National accreditation generally does not adhere to the rigorous and comprehensive demands and requirements as regional accreditation does.
How often does an accredited institution get re-evaluated and approved for regional accreditation?
Institutions who are already approved for regional accreditation must undergo regular reviews to maintain their claim as a regionally accredited school. Typically an institution is reviewed every five to ten years.
Rest assured, schools who have regional accreditation are proud of their standards and wish to maintain them always; however, if they do not, they can be stripped of their distinguished recognition; however, they will have two years to reach full compliance again. The renewal review will assure that you will receive a quality education. They look for school integrity, continuous improvement, accountability, and strong participation through community, which emphasizes diversity, mutual support, and respect.
How will regional accreditation help me?
There are many reasons that you will want to seek out a school that is regionally accredited. Besides the fact that your educational program will be top-notch, other benefits will be available as well. Two of the most important benefits to you will include access to private or public funding, and the ease of transferred credits from one school to another if needed.
How will this help you in the future? Upon graduation, your employer will know if you received your diploma from an accredited school or not, for most are familiar with a college or university’s accreditation affiliation. Therefore, through proper accreditation, employers are assured that you have been adequately trained for the job you are applying for. In addition, if you are pursuing a career that requires licensure or certification to practice, they will also require that you have graduated from a school with regional accreditation to sit for the exam.
Is a degree from SNHU respected?
Yes, SNHU is a well-respected online learning option, as are the other schools on our list of the Top Accredited Online Colleges. As previously stated, accreditation should be an important aspect of your college program search. Proper accreditation will ensure that you receive a quality education.
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