Accreditation is a process of affirming that the accredited institution is capable of providing a standard of education endorsed by the educational system and expected by society. There are six regional accrediting agencies in the United States. These include Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Online MBA programs are widely accepted as a means for working professionals to move up the professional ladder. Technological advances and well researched curriculums enable office goers to acquire knowledge at their own pace, which they can apply in their office environments.
The popularity of online MBAs has led to a burgeoning industry that has several institutes offering online MBA courses. This has made the identification of the genuine education providers difficult. This is where accreditation agencies play an important role. Accredited institutions can be trusted to offer quality education, scope for financial aid, better employment opportunities etc.
The overriding reason for enrolling for an online MBA degree is to improve career prospects. The majority of employers prefer job applicants from accredited institutions as they regard accreditation as a seal of approval for the institute. In several states, students wishing to acquire state licensure can do so only if their university or program has been accredited.
Students opting for a transfer of university stand a better chance if both universities are accredited. In case of a transfer from an unaccredited university, a student may have to repeat the courses that he has already completed at an additional cost of time and money.
Accreditation is also important if a student wishes to avail financial aid. Federal and in some cases state financial aid is available only to those students who have enrolled in accredited institutions that have met the standards laid down by the United States Department of Education (USDE). The USDEA and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) ensure that the accreditation organizations are executing their responsibilities effectively. This in turn leads to high standards being set for student admittance, institutions that are financially well-placed to fulfill the promises made in their advertisements, and faculty that is capable of providing students with a quality of education that they merit.
An online MBA program demands a certain level of self-discipline from the working adult, it is crucial that the program selected facilitates learning by providing the best possible delivery of content and tutoring. An accredited online MBA program delivers on this front and makes is easy for the working professional to balance his work life, home, and studies.
An online MBA degree from an unaccredited program may prevent pursuance of higher education, may not be recognized by private companies, public sector organizations, and NGOs. Effectively, it may have a detrimental effect on a professional’s career and can turn out to be an exercise in futility that is best avoided.
Accreditation serves to ensure congruence between the stated objectives and goals achieved by institutions and programs. Thus, working professionals desirous of acquiring an MBA degree online are best served by choosing an accredited online MBA program.
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