Taking classes online gives you the flexibility of completing work anywhere.
An online college degree program can offer you the flexibility to complete the work on your own time while maintaining your current job and family life. This flexibility allows those who may not otherwise be able to earn a college degree to do so. However, not all online programs are of the same value. Some of the degrees you can earn online carry more weight than others. To determine if the online college is worth your time, check to ensure that it is accredited with one of the six national accreditation associations.
Instructions
1. Look at the "About Us" page for the online school you are considering. If the school is accredited by one of the national accreditation associations, the website typically features an official accreditation mark as well as a blurb about its accreditation.
2. Visit the U.S. Department of Education website (ope.ed.gov). This website gives you a full list of all colleges in the country that are accredited, including online colleges. This can help verify that the claim the college makes on its website is accurate.
3. Check the website for the association through which the college claims to be accredited. Six of these associations exist in the United States: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (neasc.org), North Central Association (ncacasi.org), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (msche.org), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (sacs.org), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (wascweb.org) and Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (nwccu.org).
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