Online college accreditation is something most students assume their school has … and most of them do. But the truth is, some online schools use vague terminology to cover a lack of accreditation by a meaningful agency. How do you know the difference?

Accreditation for your online college education is important, not only to ensure the quality of your higher learning experience, but also to qualify your school to participate in federal and state financial aid programs. If the school you’re planning to attend isn’t accredited, credits you earn (and pay for!) likely won’t transfer to another institution, and you may not be able to get into a graduate program.

Online College Accreditation Scams
Certain terminology can alert you to the possibility that your online college isn’t all it’s supposed to be. Some schools try to make themselves sound like they have the proper sanctions, when in fact they don’t. If you see or hear any of these key phrases, dig deeper:

•    Recognized. By whom? And for what? Perhaps the school is recognized as being the worst in its field.

•    Member. First, be nosey about what the school is a member of. Ask about the organization and where your credits will be accepted. Otherwise, the school may be the only member of a sham organization with an important-sounding name that it set up to appear more reputable.

•    Chartered. Maybe it’s a legitimate charter to grant degrees, or it could be the sign of a diploma mill.

•    Licensed/Registered. As a business, every school has to have a local or regional license or be registered in the area. That says nothing about its reputation or expertise.

•    Pursuing Accreditation. Maybe it’s going after meaningful endorsement (but you don’t know the institution’s chance of getting it) – or perhaps they sent a letter four years ago to an “accrediting body” that covers three of the state’s worst online colleges.

Regional Accreditation
What kind of accreditation should your school have? The top tier of colleges and universities in the United States, whether on the ground or online, has regional accreditation. Usually, credits from one of these schools are transferable to another, but it’s up to individual schools to decide if their educational standards have been met. However, it’s much more likely credits will transfer from one regionally accredited institution to another than from a school that lacks this endorsement.

Six regional accreditation agencies sanction college and university programs in the United States. You can call prospective schools to ask if they’re accredited by one of the following or check with the accrediting body directly on their website:

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges. 
Accreditation of colleges in the West: California, Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Pacific Basin, East Asia, and areas of the Pacific and East Asia where American/International schools or colleges may apply to it for service.

The Northwest Association Of Schools And Colleges.
Accreditation of colleges in the Northwest: Alaska, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Accreditation of colleges in the middle eastern states: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Accreditation of colleges in the South: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Accreditation of colleges in the north central U.S.: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The New England Association of Schools & Colleges.
Accreditation of colleges in New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.