When you’re looking for an online college, it doesn’t take long to find sites that offer college degrees for life experience. They’re everywhere. If you’ve already put years into a job and want that experience to count for college credit, don’t be fooled into thinking that experience and credit always equal the same thing.
Here’s the disclaimer. There are a few colleges in the U.S. that are regionally accredited–very few–that offer real college credit for life experience. The fees are usually very high, and the documentation process for credit is extensive. If you’re determined to take this route, however, there are steps you can take to ensure that your degree is a “real” one.
If you’re looking for an accredited online degree program, you’ll see sites that list credit for experience as well as their “accreditation agency.” In order for your college degree to be authentic, it must be regionally accredited by an institution that is recognized by the United States government.
If you’re in the market for online college and want to be assured that your choice is regionally accredited, here are the six accrediting agencies and the states they accredit. You should check their sites to see if your college is on their list.
1. Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA)
Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges accredits schools in the following states and locales:
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East
2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges accredits schools in following states and locales:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
3. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement(NCA)
North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement accredits schools in the following states:
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Navajo Nation, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
4. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU)
Northwest Association of schools and Colleges accredits schools in the following states:
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
5. Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS)
Southern Association of Schools and Colleges accredits schools in following states and locales:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Latin America
6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges accredits schools in the following states and locales:
California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Palau, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Marshall Islands, and other Australasian locations
When in doubt, don’t spend your money on a program that offers online degrees for life experience without doing your homework. Be a wise shopper and know what you’re getting before you spend your hard-earned cash.
