Are Online Degrees for Real?

Dear Alecia,

The decision to earn a college degree is one of the best choices you can make for yourself. Enrolling in higher education takes commitment, heart, patience, and money, among other things, but it can open doors for you like nothing else. Even though higher education is a life-enhancing step, I also understand your uncertainty. You don't want to invest all of this hard work and find out that current or future employers do not recognize your degree. What if you decide to transfer credits to another school and find out they aren't accepted?

There is one foolproof way to find out if the online college or university you're considering is worth your money: accreditation. Independent accrediting bodies investigate schools to ensure that they are meeting federal standards for quality and rigor of instruction. In order for your degree to be recognized, your school must be accredited by one of the organizations listed here, which are officially recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education. These are the same organizations that accredit Stanford and Harvard; if your college of choice is accredited by one of these institutions, your degree is safe. (A side note: all colleges and universities listed on WorldWideLearn are accredited—but do your homework and check with the school directly to be absolutely sure.)

Remember that you are looking for a program that can help fulfill goals and career plans. Don't be afraid to voice any questions or concerns you have about a school, such as how long it's been accredited. Knowing you've done your research before committing to a program allows you to accomplish what you signed up to do: learn.