Episode 11: Legal, Authorized, Legitimate, or Accredited...what's the difference?

Legitimate, regionally accredited, legal, reputable, highly regarded, recognized, authorized, nationally accredited, and other terms like these are often adjectives people use to explain the kind of degree they want their teen to earn.

At the end of the day you really want to know how to be sure your teen doesn’t end up at a diploma mill with a worthless degree. Let’s take a quick look at the lingo used in higher education so you can make sure your teen is accumulating the right kind of college credit.

1. Middle States Commission on Higher Education (formerly Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges)
2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges
3. Higher Learning Commission (formerly North Central Association of Colleges and Schools)
4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
5. Western Association of Schools and Colleges
6. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
7. Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

You can access the Department of Education’s free online database: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

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