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You have probably heard the cliché, “distance learning colleges are not real schools”. Are you wondering if you will become the next victim of the ever-burgeoning diploma mill scam? Yes, diploma mills (fake schools that sell degrees) definitely exist but most distance learning schools are legitimate and not trying to rip you off.

lumaxart / Scott Maxwell

OK, so it’s not as simple as picking out the pesky blue M&M’s from the “superfly”, original colors, but it is definitely easier than you may think! There are a few things you must find out about any online school you are researching.

First, just to ease your skepticism and fears about distance learning colleges, here is a fact you may want to know: According to a study from the DOE (Department of Education) in 2009, “Students who took all or part of their class online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction.”

Of course, how you learn will differ from person to person depending on your work ethic, environment, etc., but it is interesting to see that distance learning can be just as rewarding as traditional schooling!

Distance Learning Colleges Accreditation

When a school is found to meet standard criteria set by an agency, it is then said to be “accredited”. Accreditation will protect you from diploma mills and “shady” organizations; therefore, knowing the accreditation of the distance learning colleges in which you are interested will help you sort the good from the bad. Still worried?

Did you know that not much difference exists between the subject, materials or tests for in-class learning vs. distance learning as long as the school is accredited? So the age old question becomes…how can you determine whether or not a school is fully accredited? Here’s how!

This process is simple, easy, and shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes. Are you ready?

Gather a list of the distance learning colleges you want to check.

Go to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) website and use the following helpful link: “Accreditation/schools.”

Click the graphic to search and type in the name of each college and the site will take you to the information you need.

Make sure to click on the right school and verify the name, address, and phone number with the information you already have.

You can also check to see if the school is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) since a school could be accredited by an agency or organization recognized by either the DOE or CHEA. Simply go to the CHEA website, accept the agreement, and then type in the name of the school.

Putting it all Together

Is your head spinning yet? No worries! Take this process slow and understand that many adults going back to school are asking the same questions you are. Before you know it, you will be enjoying all the benefits of attending distance learning colleges and you will forget all about the preparation. Happy learning!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on distance learning colleges and find the right career for you!

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