As a potential online learner, you may have to select between colleges with national accreditation as well as colleges with regional accreditation
. The choice may affect the capability to transfer credits, gain employment or be accepted for grad studies. Knowing the likenesses and differences between regional and national accrediting agencies may assist you to make an educated choice.
The DETC is typically referred to as the national accreditor. Actually, they are the only one organization focusing on accrediting online learning colleges and universities throughout the USA. The regional accreditors are the network of 6 organizations, each concentrating on a particular region of the country. Regional accreditors give approval to brick-&-mortar colleges and online schools.
Whether you decide on a college with regional of national accreditation, you can be assured the degree is legitimate. Both kinds of accreditation are accepted by the USDE and the CHEA. Federal financial help is accessible to students going to colleges and universities with either kind of accreditation. The DETC as well as all of the regional accreditation boards make a thorough assessment before awarding accreditation to any college.
Actually, regional accreditation is considerd the most commonly chosen kind of accreditation. Since most brick-&-mortar universities and colleges are recognized by regional organizations, they are more accepting of degrees and transcripts coming from regionally recognized online colleges. Also, some employers prefer degrees obtained from regionally accredited colleges and universities.
The DETC is the newer accreditor. The degrees from nationally recognized colleges are growing more acceptable in the workplace and educational community. About 70 percent of graduates from the DETC accredited colleges who tried to transfer degrees or credits were successful. Colleges in the HETA have agreed to take transcripts from nationally and regionally accredited programs. Though, it is vital to keep in mind that some schools have policies to accept transfers from the regionally accredited colleges only.