Before you start to further your educational experience you will probably be wondering about accreditation and diploma mills as not all offline or online educational institutions are accredited. In order for you to be a smart consumer and an even smarter student, you want to understand how accreditation works and the difference between accredited and unaccredited institutions of higher education. Often known as "diploma mills", these secondary and post secondary institutions provide little or no real life value to the student in exchange for the cost of the educational degree.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act defines a diploma mill as follows:
(A) (i) offers, for a fee, degrees, diplomas, or certificates, that may be used to represent to the general public that the individual possessing such a degree, diploma, or certificate has completed a program of postsecondary education or training; and (ii) requires such individual to complete little or no education or coursework to obtain such degree, diploma, or certificate; and
(B) lacks accreditation by an accrediting agency or association that is recognized as an accrediting agency or association of institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102) by -- (i) the Secretary pursuant to subpart 2 of part H of title IV; or (ii) a Federal agency, State government, or other organization or association that recognizes accrediting agencies or associations.
| |
StarReviews Top 3
Online Education Websites |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The U.S. Department of Education offers and online database of accredited institutions, accredited by accredting agencies that are recognized by the US Secretary of Education. You can search the database at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation. Students who attend accredited institutions are eligible to receive federal aid and other federal benefits. Remember, this list is only a list of accredited educational institutions and does not include institutions that have not sought accreditation but yet still provide a high quality education.
As of the posting of this article, all Online Educational Institutions reviewed at StarReviews are accredited by recognized accrediting agencies and are listed in the U.S. Department of Educations database.
Tags:
education