The Implications of Attending a Non-Accredited School
The implications of attending a non-accredited school will vary depending on why the student enrolls in a course or program. However, suppose a student joins an unaccredited institution. In that case, they will miss out on some benefits and risk graduating with a degree, diploma, or certificate that is practically meaningless beyond any personal gratification the student may derive from the achievement.
A student who attends an unaccredited school:
Will be ineligible for state or federal financial assistance, such as grants and loans.
Most private types of financial aid, particularly scholarships, will be disqualified.
Employers may dismiss or simply ignore any academic credential obtained from an unaccredited institution.
I will be attending a school that does not receive any federal or state funding to help finance it.
When transferring or seeking admission, the academic credits gained at the unaccredited school may not be accepted by another school.
They may expose themselves to criminal prosecution or legal damage if they engage in the unlicensed practice of a certain profession.
How to Determine Whether an Online School Is Accredited
Students considering attending an online college or university should make a special effort to ensure that the school is accredited. Today, most online schools in the United States are not degree mills, and they require the same level of academic performance from their online and on-campus students. However, the risk exists, and prospective students interested in a specific institution or program should confirm its accreditation status as soon as feasible, even before applying. This is because there is no use in completing an application, maybe paying an application fee, and writing an admissions essay for a non-accredited school.
But how can a learner be certain? The method for determining if a recognized accrediting agency accredits a school is outlined below for potential students.
Step 1: Look at the school’s website.
Step 2: Visit the Website of the Accreditation Agency.
Step 3: Visit the CHEA or the US Department of Education’s website.
Red Flags in Accreditation
Schools that lack Department of Education or CHEA-recognized accreditation are aware that they lack a critical attribute that most students will seek. As a result, unscrupulous institutions try hard to mislead or fool prospective students into believing the school is accredited. They may even go so far as to argue that certification is unnecessary given the school’s other selling advantages.
One method used by colleges to deceive students is to obtain accreditation from an “accreditation mill.” An accreditation mill is a business that offers accreditation credentials far more easily than a credible certifying authority would. In certain cases, an accreditation mill will simply give the school the accrediting status after money is paid.
The following are some red flags that may indicate that a school is not accredited or is accredited by an accreditation mill. Most of these red flags do not automatically imply that a school is not properly accredited, but prospective students should apply elsewhere if many difficulties arise.
The name and appearance of the questionable school are quite similar to that of a well-known and accredited school, as though the problematic school is attempting to fool prospective students.
Other schools and employers in the area are unaware of the school’s existence.
The accrediting agency is not recognized by the US Department of Education or the CHEA, even though the school claims to be certified.
Has a pending accreditation status, with no projected timeframe for obtaining certification.
Degree completion in an extraordinarily short amount of time is promised.
Tuition rates that are unusually high or low.
A fixed tuition fee that applies regardless of a student’s course load.
Admission to the school is automatic.
Promotional material appears to be rather “sales.”
There are no faculty credentials available.
Makes bold claims about its programs, such as a high average pay for alumni or high employment rates after graduation, without identifying sources or providing a method to check that information.
Do not disclose a physical address for its campus or offices.
Graduation and curriculum standards are far less stringent than those of equivalent, certified institutions.
Degrees can be achieved entirely based on prior experience.
Allows students to receive academic credit for earlier education without the need for a verified transcript or other comparable academic qualifications.
- There are very few, if any, class attendance requirements.