Accreditation is a set of guidelines and rules in which colleges operate. This set of rules insures students that generally everything within that college will be uniformly kept. This also protects students from unfair practices within a college. These rules make sure that the students are getting treated fairly, classes are taught professionally, and the students are not unduly harmed by the college.
Types of Accreditation
There are two types of accreditation for colleges:
- National Accreditation: This is more of a vocational or trade school accreditation and is used mostly for colleges that teach subjects such as culinary, cosmetology, auto mechanics and other trades. There are over fifty accrediting agencies in the United States that make up the national accreditation.
- Regional Accreditation: This is the best type of accreditation a school can attain. Regional accreditation is more of an academic accreditation and includes most of the top colleges like state colleges, community colleges, and some of the top private colleges. There are six accreditation bodies that comprise the regional accreditation system.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits are credits that transfer from one college to another college. Being regionally accredited is the best for transfer credits. For instance, if you take classes at a community college which is regionally accredited most likely these credits will transfer to a state college that is regionally accredited. Most of the time regionally accredited colleges will not accept nationally accredited transcripts for transfer credits. If you have a bachelor's degree from a nationally accredited college the likelihood of attaining a master's degree from a regional college is very slim. They will not recognize your bachelor's as a transferable degree. Transfer credits also vary from one college to the next, so check with the colleges.
Evaluating Colleges
If you are evaluating colleges make sure that the accreditation is the highest of the colleges. For instance if you are comparing two colleges for business degrees and one college is nationally accredited and the other is regionally accredited choose the regional accreditation.
Now, on the other hand if you were choosing a college for a trade such as art, this can be found at a community college or a nationally accredited college. Usually the nationally accredited college has less general education and more hands-on classes. This might be more beneficial for the student.
So compare wisely and know your accreditation.
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