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