Is your Education Valid?

According to StudentAid.gov Accreditation is the recognition that an institution maintains standards requisites for its graduates for admissions to other reputable institutions of higher learning; or to achieve credentials for a professional practice. Without accreditation, other schools and/or employers would have no way to tell if your degree or certificate is legitimate. In fact, many colleges and/or universities won’t accept transfer credits without the credits coming from a recognized accredited school. 

 The Goal of Accreditation is to ensure that the education provided by the institution of higher learning meets acceptable levels of quality. Furthermore, just because a school participates in the Federal Student Aid Program, commonly known as Financial Aid does not mean that the Department of Education endorses the quality of education the school offers. Consumers should be advised that the Department of Education does not approve a schools curriculum, policies and/or administrative practices; however they do approve the administration of the Federal Student Aid Program.

Consumers are encouraged to aggressively vet Admissions Counselors who are in all actuality Sales Representatives at for-profit schools before making the decision to enroll.  You want to ensure that if you plan to further your education sometime in the future the credits you’ve earned are transferable. Many colleges won’t accept transfer credits without a recognized accreditation.  Although accreditation does not guarantee the quality of your education; it does provide that there is oversight. 

There are 2 basic types of Educational Accreditation:

1. Institutional – Each of the institutions parts is contributing to the achievement of the institutions objectives which are all at the same level of quality.
2. Specialized – Applies to the evaluation of programs, departments or schools which are usually interconnected parts of a total collegiate or other post-secondary institution.  In addition, unit accredited programs may be as large as a college or school within a university; or a small discipline within a curriculum.

Unaccredited institutions are considered diploma mills and not recognized by the Department of Education (DOE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); many diploma/degree mills receive their accreditation from unrecognized agencies. To ensure you’re not being taken for a ride check for accreditation with CHEA and/or the DOE. It’s the way the higher education industry determines whether an education is valid. 

Written by Celina Canada-Johnson

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