National vs. Regional Accreditation: the Basics Learn about the different types of accreditation. An online school's accreditation can determine whether or not your courses and degree are recognized by other schools, employers, and the government.
by Gila GreenChoosing an accredited distance learning program is the starting point for would-be students trying too choose the right online degree. All reputable institutions offering online degrees have accreditation (What is accreditation?).
Once you have verified that your institution and program of choice are accredited, go to step two: understanding what type of accreditation the school has to offer, and deciding whether that is the right one for your personal and professional life.
In the United States, there are institutions with national accreditation, regional accreditation and, less common but still worth noting, specialized accreditation.
What are the key differences?
The main difference is the ease with which students can transfer credits between institutions. Consider your future aspirations. If you think you are going to complete your degree at that school and continue straight into the workforce, then you can choose either a nationally or regionally accredited degree program.
However, for students who think they may not complete the degree or may want to seek an advanced degree, a regionally accredited degree is a safer bet. This is because courses acquired through nationally accredited institutions risk rejection by regionally accredited institutions. You do not want to discover that you cannot advance to the Masters level at your institution of choice because that institution does not recognize your nationally accredited degree.
Here are the similarities and differences between regionally and nationally accredited programs:
| Accreditation | Cost | Accepts credit transfers from other accredited institutions | Location of Accredited Schools | Are students eligible for federal aid? | Non Profit or For Profit? |
| National | Low cost programs are easy to find | Yes | USA and abroad | Yes | Non profit |
| Regional | Usually more costly | Sometimes | USA, but focused on specific regions | Yes | Non profit |
Specialized Accreditation
If you are studying towards a career in a specific profession such as medicine, law, or nursing, you need to choose an institution with specialized accreditation from that professional field in order to become a licensed practitioner. Be very careful when choosing a degree program in these fields; make sure your industry will recognize and accept whatever degree you are pursuing.
Which Type of Accreditation Offers More Employment Opportunities?
You may be looking ahead and wondering whether a nationally or regionally accredited degree is going to give you a leg up in the job market. Most employers do not know the difference between accrediting institutions. However, it doesn’t hurt to call the human resources department and ask before registering for a degree.
