If you are trying to figure out which university is the better fit for you, one way to go about it is by looking at the accreditation. It is awarded to universities that meet a certain standard.

Regionally accredited online universities
These are colleges where an accrediting body has gone through the course material, checked for the quality of the program and given their approval. Universities undergo a rigorous process only after which they are given recognition.

Some accreditors sometimes recognize a university but don’t accredit it. This may make a difference to your employer, so it is safer to find out everything you can about a university before you enroll. Regional accreditation is awarded to schools that have online programs. This accreditation is done within a particular region in comparison to the peers. The process varies by the state.

How to determine accreditation
The first thing you need to do is find out from the college directly. Most universities are upfront about it. You can also verify with the existing students or your peers. Another way is to find out is by yourself as it is a career decision you are making. Here is how you can find out if the university you have applied to is accredited or not.

You can start by finding out where the headquarters of the main campus is located. There are 6 accreditors across the country. Based on the location, you can find out which agency is responsible for the accreditation.

List of agencies

• Northwest Commission on Universities and Colleges
• The Western Association of Colleges and Schools
• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• The Higher Learning Commission
• The Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• The New England Association of Colleges and Schools

Now that you know which agency your regionally accredited online universities comes under, you can check their website to see if your college is on their list.

By doing so, you can verify if you are joining the college that is best for you. If you are looking to go for a program in a regionally accredited online university and later take a transfer, you will have to deepen your research. The credits earned in some of the online universities are not always transferrable. You will have to check this prior to joining the university.

When you are finalizing the college you are attending, do not forget to investigate its accreditation. A degree from a regionally accredited online university will hold a lot more value in the future.