As online education expands, so does the need for quality assurance. Accreditation is the primary system for evaluating and approving the legitimacy of higher education institutions and programs. But how does the process work for online schools?

In this article, we’ll examine the value of accreditation, types of accrediting bodies, the criteria used to assess online programs, and tips for students evaluating credentials.

The Importance of Accreditation

Accreditation provides independent oversight of academic quality at colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Schools must meet rigorous standards around curriculum, faculty, student services, and outcomes to earn accredited status.

This external approval helps “ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Attending an accredited program is especially crucial for online students. Accreditation validates that remote students get comparable educational experiences and value for their investment.

According to higher education expert Leah Matthews, “Accreditation protects students from substandard education and predatory institutions.” It is a primary indicator students should examine when evaluating online programs.

Types of Accrediting Organizations

There are two main categories of accreditors: institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditors review entire colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Specialized accreditors evaluate specific programs within larger institutions, such as business, law, engineering, or nursing.

Institutional accreditors are either regional or national in scope:

• Regional – Assess public and private schools within six geographic regions of the U.S. Standards are strict and highly valued by academia.
• National – Operate throughout the U.S. but are more common among career and vocational schools. Hold varying levels of recognition.

Specialized accreditors usually relate to particular professions or subject matter. This added program-specific oversight ensures curriculum, facilities, faculty, and student outcomes meet field standards.

The Criteria for Evaluating Online Programs

While specific standards vary by accreditor, most assess the following key facets of online programs:

• Curriculum – Accreditors evaluate program learning objectives, course materials, assignments, and assessments to ensure rigor and quality. Courses should provide relevant knowledge and skills.
• Faculty – Instructors must have strong credentials and expertise in their teaching fields. Their teaching methods, training, professional development, and evaluation processes get reviewed.
• Student support – Programs must provide academic support like advising, tutoring, technical help, disability accommodations, etc. to support online learner success.
• Technology – The learning management system, instructional tools, and infrastructure must provide a quality learning experience with ample resources and reliability.
• Student outcomes – Programs track outcomes like graduation and retention rates, graduate satisfaction, career results, and licensing exam pass rates to demonstrate effective teaching and services.
• Transparency & policies – Clear information on admissions, costs, program details, and institutional policies must be readily available to students and the public.
• Financial sustainability – The institution must demonstrate sound financial management to sustain ongoing operations and fulfill commitments to students.

By mandating measures like these, accreditation upholds critical standards of quality in online education. The process provides valuable consumer protection and reassurance.

Tips for Evaluating an Online Program’s Accreditation

Here are some key tips for students researching the accreditation of online colleges and programs:

• Verify accreditor legitimacy – Check that the accrediting body is recognized by the Department of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Unrecognized accreditors are questionable.
• Confirm current status – Accreditation must be active, not expired or withdrawn. Status can be checked on accreditors’ websites. Schools must disclose accreditation status publicly.
• Review type – Institutional accreditation is ideal but program-specific is also good. Know the value of regional vs. national accreditors. Unaccredited programs are risky.
• Compare to competitors – Look at peer online programs’ accreditation for context on quality standards. Top schools usually have the highest accreditation.
• Consider career goals – Certain specialized accreditors may be required for state licensure or certification in fields like education, healthcare, and engineering.
• Ask questions – Admissions counsellors should provide transparent details on accreditation. Students can request to see the criteria and latest review report.

As higher education consultant Jay Halfond states, “Accreditation offers the clearest path for potential students to gauge an institution’s legitimacy.” Following these tips helps students make an informed decision and avoid diploma mills or subpar degrees.

Accreditors Adapting Standards for Online Quality

Specialized accreditors are developing updated standards focused on assessing quality in online programs:

• The ACBSP business accreditor added standards on technology infrastructure, digital security, mobile accessibility, and online course design.
• The engineering accreditor ABET requires programs to demonstrate remote student access to software, labs, equipment, and group work.
• The online-specific DEAC accreditor updated standards on learning analytics, user experience, mobile readiness, and simulated learning.
• The teacher education accreditor CAEP requires evidence of clinical placement quality, supervisor qualifications, and field experience coordination for remote interns.
• The CCNE nursing accreditor expanded faculty role requirements to include online teaching skills like virtual classroom facilitation.

As online education specialist Kay Shattuck observes, “Accreditors play a vital role in upholding standards and accountability for a quality learner experience amid rapid technological shifts.”

The Outlook for Accreditation

What does the future hold for online accreditation? Here are two likely trends:

More Programs Seeking Accreditation – To compete with accredited rivals and legitimize their programs, unaccredited online schools will pursue rigorous review and approval. Students increasingly expect accredited online options.

Greater Collaboration Among Accreditors – With the rise of interdisciplinary online programs, varied accreditors must work together to streamline overlapping standards. This facilitates accreditation for innovative programs.

Ultimately, robust accreditor oversight benefits students by incentivizing schools to invest in rigorous yet flexible online curricula, faculty training, support services, and continuous improvement.

While the virtual classroom poses new challenges, accreditation ensures students receive a worthwhile education that enriches lives and careers. As long as accreditors uphold standards, online degrees and credentials will open just as many doors.