Online education has grown over the past few years and institute and universities in every nook and corner have started giving online education and online programs. It has also made difficult for students to select the right school.

But with so many new online programs sprouting these days, how can a prospective student know which ones are legitimate and not a waste of money?

Accreditation is the differentiating factor here. Online institutes and universities acquire accreditation to prove to students that they are providing high quality education to students. It is an assurance for employers that the students possess the necessary skills to become successful in the corporate world. To the general public, it guarantees that the institute is legitimate and meets adequate levels of educational quality. Accreditation is an assertion that the online institute and university is meeting high-quality standards, employing a continuous improvement procedure, and engaged in quality assurance throughout internal and external review.

Accreditation is mainly of three types: regional, national and international accreditation. International accreditation is the one in which the institute gets recognized all over the world. This accreditation is offered by a few accreditation agencies such as EAHEA. Institutional accreditation specifies that an entire institution has met the established standards of educational quality. Institutional accreditation suggests that each of an institution’s schools, majors and degree programs contribute to the achievement of the institution’s general academic objectives. Specialized accreditation applies to a specific program offered by a school. This accreditation does not cover the entire school but only the degree program or school that has been accredited.

To earn EAHEA accreditation, institutions must follow the accreditation process. Online institutions must meet the established standards, requiring the school to have clear vision, a mission and purpose; have effective and receptive leadership; have a well-structured curriculum and results. It should engage in EAHEA’s continuous improvement process simply by committing to excellence and perform consistent and continuous self-improvement and establish plans while making efforts to improve students learning and school efficiency.