Accredited online universities should always be a key focus in your research. Unfortunately, with the increasing popularity of online learning, many online learning institutions have sprung up on the internet, and some are not accredited.

Accreditation is a voluntary process of review that an institution can undergo. To become accredited, an online university is subject to a process of self-review, peer review, and visits from the accreditation organization. There are national and regional accreditation organizations, such as the Distance Education and Training Council, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. There are also organizations that evaluate specific types of programs, such as the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education. Do not underestimate the importantace of accreditation. Being accredited means that this particular online university has met strict standards of quality set forth by an impartial organization. At regular intervals, online universities will come up for additional review in order to maintain accredited status.

You should also look into the reputation of the online university. Thoroughly research its credentials, facilities, and the employment prospects for alumni. You may also want to to research the reputation of the particular program you are interested in, and see if you can get in touch with former or current students to ask detailed questions. Faculty who teach in the program should be accomplished experts in their field.

Still not sure why an online university's accreditation matters? If you have chosen to pursue an online accredited degree, you've committed to attending an institution that has passed extensive review by private and government education commissions. So what does this mean for you?

• A quality education. Accredited universities are recognized for their top-notch curriculum and their variety of learning resources to keep students engaged.
• Earn credits that are more likely to be transferable to other institutions. This means if you want to change schools, some of your classes won't need to be repeated.
• Be more competitive in your industry. Many employers take into account the fact that your degree is from an accredited university. This shows employers that you received a quality education and they can be confident in the knowledge you have.

Your online bachelor's or master's degree will carry significantly more weight if it comes from an online accredited university.

If your degree comes from an accredited university, a potential employer will look upon your degree with much more confidence and a belief in your abilities. An online accredited university will have met strict standards of quality and performance, and will structure its programs to be every bit as rigorous as an on-campus program. Once you have narrowed your choices down to a few accredited universities, you should then start comparing other statistics. You should see how many graduates became employed after earning their degrees. You should look up rankings and see how the online universities you are considering measure up to one another. Also consider talking with hiring managers or professionals in the industry you hope to work in; they will be able to tell you which online universities are known for producing graduates that excel in their field.

All in all, it really does pay off to apply to a top-ranked accredited university. Do not start your application before making sure your online university measures up to the rest.