| If you are thinking about taking advantage of | | | | advance.Choosing an online college or |
| one of the many online degree programs | | | | University that has accreditation form the |
| offered by colleges and Universities from | | | | U.S. Department on Education is the most |
| around the United States, you are not alone. | | | | sensible choice. The benefits for you, as a |
| This trend in distance learning has exploded | | | | student, are numerous. For example, |
| in popularity, due to the convenience and | | | | transferring prior college credits from one |
| flexibility of the diverse types of programs | | | | accredited college or University to another |
| offered. However, there is something you | | | | is easier. Accredited colleges and |
| should keep in mind when considering which | | | | Universities have agreements with one another |
| program to apply to and/or attend. That is, | | | | to provide smooth transitions for students. |
| make sure the program you select is | | | | Another huge benefit of selecting a U.S. |
| accredited by the U.S. Department of | | | | Department of Education accredited college or |
| Education. This is important and beneficial | | | | University is that you will be able to apply |
| to you for many reasons.Schools are granted | | | | for federally funded financial aid in the |
| accreditation by the U.S. Department of | | | | form of grants, loans, and scholarships. As a |
| Education for meeting or exceeding certain | | | | student of an online program, you are |
| criteria for excellence in quality of | | | | entitled to financial aid. This obviously |
| education. It is no different if you choose | | | | makes attending college more affordable, as |
| an online program than if you were to go to a | | | | well as an attainable goal.Yet another |
| traditional college or University. This | | | | benefit of attending an online college or |
| accreditation falls under two categories: | | | | University accredited by the U.S. Department |
| institutional and specialized. Institutional | | | | of Education is the legitimacy of the degree |
| accreditation pertains to the college or | | | | that you earn. Holding a degree from an |
| University as a whole, where specialized | | | | accredited institution will be more |
| accreditation pertains to the individuals | | | | recognized and accepted by potential |
| academic programs within the college or | | | | employers when applying for jobs. In |
| University. Accreditation affects the funding | | | | addition, many professional organizations do |
| that a college or University receives from | | | | not acknowledge degree from colleges and |
| the Department of Education. The Department | | | | Universities that are not accredited, the |
| of Education does not govern the colleges and | | | | implication being that the academic standards |
| Universities that achieve accreditation. | | | | at a non-accredited institution are not held |
| Rather, it works with them to make sure they | | | | at as high a standard.There are so-called |
| maintain their levels of excellence and | | | | online colleges and Universities that do not |
| assists them in certain ways to | | | | operate within the limits of U. |