Recent advances in technology have increased access to education from all walks of life, providing students with a variety of options of how to gain credentials and knowledge. One of those options is the convenience of online college courses.

Online college courses provide the student with the flexibility to juggle responsibilities of work and family as well as gain a valuable education. What many seek is the assurance of quality that comes with an accredited online college.

Accreditation is the independent, third-party validation of academic standards such as course curriculum, faculty qualifications, and student support services. In the United States, online colleges must also be accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation body such as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It is important to check if the college or course you are interested in is accredited by the HLC or another applicable body.

The advantages of an accredited online college are abundantly clear. Here are some of the big benefits of attending an accredited online college:

1. Quality and Reputation: Accreditation is a sign of quality. An accredited online college has a established reputation for providing quality education to students. This assurance of quality helps prospective students make informed decisions, and also verifies the credentials earned to potential employers.

2. Cost Savings: Online college courses are typically much more affordable than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Courses can be taken part-time, which allows students to control the pace of their studies in order to juggle work and family responsibilites. Because online courses usually cost less in tuition, students can often save considerable amounts of money.

3. Transferability: Since many online colleges are accredited, the credits earned may be transferable to other accredited colleges, which helps students advance within their educational goals. Many online colleges also offer credit for life experience, allowing students to tailor their degree plans and save on tuition costs.

4. Flexibility: An accredited online college provides the convenience of completing studies from home or from any location with access to the internet. The asynchronous format of learning allows students to engage with course material and teachers at times best suited to their personal schedules, and to work ahead or behind if needed.

In conclusion, an accredited online college can provide numerous benefits to prospective students. Accreditation provides assurance of quality, and often significant savings in costs. Most importantly, accredited online college courses are much more easily transferable than unaccredited courses, allowing students to progress towards their educational goals.