While online education has revolutionized education and provided many opportunities to those who never considered post secondary education, there are things you need to keep in mind when evaluating any school, whether online or traditional.
Arguably, the most important consideration in evaluating a school is whether or not that school has received legitimate accreditation. Accreditation provides assurance to the student and the future employers that the school meets a minimum set of standards in education. There are several accreditation agencies recognized by the federal government. A diploma mill will often brag that they are accredited but when you look a little more closely, you'll find that their accreditation agency is bogus. As in all things, when evaluating a school, it is important that you do your homework!
How to Know if a School is Legitimately Accredited
Did you know that the Secretary of Education is required to keep an up to date database of accredited education institutions. They also have a list of accreditation agencies. You'll find the list at this government website.
This is your first step in choosing an online school. Understanding and using this tool will keep you from wasting thousands of dollars and years of wasted time. Accreditation is the single most important element in evaluating any school.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
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