Online Colleges
Online Colleges 101 was developed to help individuals at all stages of their lives, from high school students to working professionals find the best online colleges, universities, schools and degree programs for their needs. If you’re still doing research about attending college or taking an online degree program, browse through our articles section to learn more about the education industry as it relates to higher education online. More importantly, learn more about what it takes to excel in an online learning environment and how an online college education can help propel your career to new levels. Taking the right life degree program that is suited for you is one of the key factors to a successful education experience and career.
Why Choose an Online College Degree?
The Internet makes it possible for working adults and individuals living in remote areas an alternative means to obtain a quality education. Working professionals can attend classes and study during off-hours. Stay-at-home parents can take advantage of their children’s naptime to connect with their study group members. Military service members can log in and review class notes while serving in any new post that allows internet connectivity.
Online Colleges and Schools Accreditation
Unlike what’s common in most other countries, accreditation of higher education institutions in the United States is not conducted by the government. Instead, accreditation is a process that is carried out by private nongovernmental accrediting agencies for schools and institutions that wish to be accredited. Schools and institutions are not required to be accredited to operate. It is an entirely voluntary program. Both regional and national agencies are involved in the accreditation process. The only role that the government plays is to evaluate these accrediting agencies with a set of established criteria so as to identify what might be considered as “authorities” on the quality of education institutions.
Many accrediting agencies are geared towards specific professions. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for example, grants accreditation to MBA and other business programs. AACSB is a well-established, respected accrediting agency that is trusted by many employers in the field of business. Whether you’re considering a traditional or online MBA degree, be sure to check if the college has this accreditation.
Find Accredited Online Colleges, Degree Programs and Accrediting Agencies
The following is sampling of accredited online colleges, degree programs and accrediting agencies.
| Name of School/University | Institutional Level - Accrediting Agency | Accredited Programs | Program Level - Accrediting Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argosy University | NCA, HLC | Clinical Psychology | APSY, COA |
| Bellevue University | NCA, HLC | N/A | N/A |
| Boise State University | NWCCU | Teaching Educations | TEAC |
| Boston University | NEASC, CIHE | Physical Therapy | APTA, CAPTA |
| Music | MUS | ||
| California Intercontinental University | DETC, AC | Health Care Ad., Bus. Ad | N/A |
| California State University - Bakersfield | WAS | Teaching Educations | TEAC |
| Nursing education programs | CCNE | ||
| Chamberlain College of Nursing | NCA, HLC | Nursing education programs | NLANAC |
| Chicago School of Professional Psychology | NCA, HLC | Clinical Psychology | APSY, COA |
| Cleveland State University | NCA, HLC | Nursing education programs | NLANAC |
| Concord Law School of Kaplan University | DETC, NCA, HLC | N/A | N/A |
| Creighton University | NCA, HLC | Occupational Therapy | AOTA, ACOTP |
| Pharmacy | PHAR | ||
| DeVry University | NCA, HLC | N/A | N/A |
| Drexel University | MSCHE | Nursing educ | CCNE |
| English Language | NLANAC | ||
| Florida International University | SAC, COC | Public Health Mgt. | CEPH |
| Occupational Therapy | AOTA, ACOTP | ||
| Gonzaga University | NWCCU | Nursing education programs | NLANAC |
| Grand Canyon University | NCA, HLC | Nursing education programs | NLANAC |
| Grantham University | DETC | N/A | N/A |
| Henley-Putnam University | DETC | N/A | N/A |
| Herzing University | NCA, HLC | Medical Assistant Education | MAAB |
| Indiana State University | NCA, HLC | Nursing Educ. | NLANAC |
| Teacher Education | TEAC | ||
| Keiser University | SAC, COC | Medical Assistant Education | HES |
| Keiser College - Daytona | N/A | Medical Assistant - Assoc.Degree | N/A |
| Kent State University | NCA, HLC | Nursing education programs | NLANAC |
| Music | MUS | ||
| Kona University | DETC | N/A | N/A |
| Lamar University | SAC, COC | Nursing Educ. | NLANAC |
| Lewis University | NCA, HLC | Nursing Educ. | NLANAC |
| Teaching Educations | EAC | ||
| Liberty University | SAC, COC | Nursing Educ. | NLANAC |
| Teaching Educations | EAC | ||
| Loyola University New Orleans | SAC, COC | Nursing Educ. | NLANAC |
| McKinley College | DETC | N/A | N/A |
| Norwich University | NEASC, CIHE | MS in Nursing | NLANAC |
| Nova Southeastern University | SAC, COC | Occupational Therapy | AOTA, ACOTP |
| Public Health Mgt. | PHG | ||
| Ohio University | NCA, HLC | Nursing Educ. | NLANAC |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University | NCA, HLC | Nursing Educ. | NLANAC |
| Oregon Institute of Technology | NWCCU | Dental Hygiene | ADA, CDA |
| Penn Foster College | DETC | N/A | N/A |
| Pima Medical Institute - Tucson | BHES | Radiologic Technology | RAD |
| Quinnipiac University | NEASC, CIHE | Occupational Therapy | AOTA, ACOTP |
| Teacher Educ. | TEAC | ||
| Sacred Heart University | NCA, HLC | Nursing education programs | CCNE |
| Saint Xavier University | NCA, HLC | Nursing education programs | CCNE |
| University of Central Missouri | NCA, HLC | Teaching Educations | TEAC |
| Nursing Educ. | CCNE | ||
| University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | NCA, HLC | Medicine | LCMED |
| University of Colorado Denver | NCA, HLC | Nursing Education | NLANAC/CCNE |
| University of Florida | SAC, COC | Occupational Therapy | AOTA, ACOTP |
| Teacher Educ. | TEAC | ||
| Pharmacy | PHAR | ||
| University of Illinois at Chicago | NCA, HLC | Pharmacy | PHAR |
| Nursing Education | CCNE | ||
| Public Health Mgt. | PHG | ||
| University of Maryland - Baltimore | MSCHE | Nursing Education | MBNURS/NLANAC |
| University of New England | NEASC, CIHE | Physical Therapy | APTA/CAPTA |
| University of Phoenix | NCA, HLC | Nursing education programs | CCNE |
| University of Pittsburgh | MSCHE | Nursing Educ. | CCNE |
| University of West Alabama | SAC, COC | Teaching Educations | TEAC |
| Walden University | NCA, HLC | Nursing education programs | NLANAC |
Online College Resources
- College Board
As a not-for-profit membership association representing more than 5,900 colleges, universities and schools, the College Board leads national and international efforts to improve access to and readiness for higher education. - College Navigator
College Navigator is a search engine maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics to help prospective students find the right college or graduate school based on their criteria. - College.gov
Built by the U.S. Dept. of Education in collaboration with students, the site is intended to be the go-to source for information and resources about planning, preparing and paying for colleges, universities, as well as vocational or career schools. - Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. - The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review helps students, parents, and educators achieve the best results in their educational careers. By focusing on preparation and practice, they help students improve their performance in the classroom and on standardized tests. - U.S. Department of Education - Accreditation
Information provided by the U.S. Department of Education regarding the goal of accreditation and its role in the accrediting of higher education institutions in America. - U.S. News & World Report - Online Education
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. that has become known for its ranking system and annual reports on American colleges and graduate schools.
Financial Aid, College Scholarships, Student Loans
- Fastweb
Free online service that works by matching the information in your completed profile to scholarships from their database of over 1.5 million scholarships worth over $3.4 billion. - Federal Student Aid
Federal Student Aid is an office in the U.S. Department of Education whose core mission is to ensure that all eligible individuals benefit from federal financial assistance—grants, loans and work-study programs—for education beyond high school. - Finaid
Established in 1994 as a public service, Finaid has grown into the most comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools on the web.
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