Regional Accreditation vs. National Accreditation
When choosing a college or online degree program, it is important to select one that is accredited by an established accrediting organization. These organizations, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), ensure that the quality of education or training offered by the programs meets certain standards. Accreditation is either regional or national, and there are benefits and drawbacks to each type of accreditation.
Regional AccreditationRegional accreditation is given to institutions and programs that offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of subjects. It is the primary type of institutional accreditation used in the United States, and is provided by six organizations that cover different geographic regions in the country.
Regional accreditation is the most recognized type of college accreditation, and colleges that have been regionally accredited allow transfer of degrees and credits between institutions. However, regionally accredited colleges are typically more expensive and are more competitive when it comes to admissions.
National AccreditationNational, or special, accreditation is given to those institutions that specialize in one or a few subjects, such as law, medicine, or schools of visual and performing arts. National accreditation is provided by several national accrediting organizations that are recognized by the DOE and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Nationally accredited programs offer more career-oriented majors because they are typically at trade or vocational institutions, are often less expensive and are not as stringent on admissions. Attending a nationally accredited program may limit your ability to transfer credits, and these programs may be excluded from corporate tuition plans.
Which is Better?Regional and national accreditation agencies use the same standards to evaluate schools and programs. Institutions accredited by either type of agency are considered recognized higher institutions, and students attending are eligible for federal financial aid, according to the DOE. Attending a program that has received either accreditation is fine if you will not be transferring schools or obtaining a further degree, or if potential employers will not care about your school's accreditation.
Is My School Accredited?Finding out if the school you are interested in attending is regionally or nationally accredited is very easy to find out. Go to the DOE's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs at ope.ed.gov/accreditation. If your school is accredited, the database will show you a list of agencies that have given the school accreditation.
Article Resources:
U.S. Department of Educationhttp://www.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/accreditation.html
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/accred-postsec.doc
Education in U.S.A.
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