About Online School

Although we’ve mentioned repeatedly how important accreditation is, how to get accredited, how to avoid false accreditation, etc. one thing you may be surprised to learn is that there are professional associations that will accredit an online school, sometimes for a specific program.

Below is a list of 25 schools that received some sort of accreditation by a professional association:

1. At Still University (Physician Assistant): This school dates back to 1892 and is considered the leading online school, and Offline School of osteopathic-centered medicine. This online school is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
2. Capella University: This online school was founded in 1991, and offers a degree in Public Safety, Business, and Technology. The accreditation for this school is through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
3. Boston University: This online school offers both graduate and undergraduate programs. For accreditation purposes this online school is a member of many different associations including the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA), and the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).
4. Champlain College: One of the few not-for-profit colleges in the country, this online school has a wealth of opportunities. Their accreditation is through the Champlain College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.]
5. eCornell: This online school is a part of Cornell University and is considered an Ivy League education. Their accreditation comes through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
6. Florida Tech University Online: Florida Tech offers various degrees from Arts in Accounting to Arts in Criminal Justice. They are accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
7. Florida Tech University Online Grad: This is the Graduates study school for Florida Tech. They offer graduate degrees for both MBA and Master of Science. This school also accredited through the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
8. Graceland University: At this online university you can earn a degree in Nursing and Education. The accreditation here goes through the Higher Learning Commission.
9. Grand Canyon University Online: This great online school was founded in 1949 and is now a major teacher education college among other things. Their accreditation is through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
10. Independence University: This online school was the very first college to offer accredited degrees in Respiratory Therapy. They get their accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
11. Jones International University: This school is known as being the first accredited university that is 100% online. Their accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
12. Kaplan University: At Kaplan you will be offered online courses for many degree levels. Accreditation for this online school is through The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
13. Lincoln Online: This wonderful online school offers you Associate degrees in Criminal Justice, Business, and more. They get their accreditation through the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
14. Marygrove College: Marygrove College has been providing educations since 1927. They are also an online school now and get their accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA).
15. National American University Online: Programs at this online school are targeted for all students from high school and up. Accreditation for this school is from the Higher Learning Commission.
16. Northeastern University: This online school has programs for MBA with distinct specializations in many fields. This school is AACSB International accredited.
17. Ohio University: Ohio University is an online school whose roots go back to 1804. It is classified as the ninth oldest public school in the United States. Their accreditation comes from the regional accrediting agency, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
18. Penn Foster Career School: Penn Foster has a wide variety of career choices including automotive, health, and business. They get their accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) Post University Online.
19. Regis University Online: This online school is known for providing one of the best Jesuit educations available. They have their accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
20. Salem International University: At this online school you can get degrees that range from an Associates in Business Administration to Bachelor Degrees in Accounting and International Business. They get their accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and the West Virginia State Board of Education.
21. Sullivan University: This is an excellent online school to earn a degree in Beverage Management or Business Administration. The accreditation for this university comes from many sources. One such source is the American Culinary Federation.
22. University of Phoenix: No list would be complete without them! This online university is the largest private school in the US. What’s more, you will find that they have the largest list of accreditations. One of their many accreditations comes from The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
23. University of San Francisco: This online school works to help those students that work full time. This is why they tailor their studies the way they do. Their accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
24. Vanderbilt University: This last online school on our list also dates back many years to 1909. What started out as a modest Nursing school is now known for its excellence nationwide. They get their accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission.

If one of these online schools is on your list, you may want to circle and underline it–professional associations have their own (rigorous) standards, and it’s a good sign if they’ve accredited a school.

What other online educational institutes do you know that are accredited by some sort of professional association? Drop a comment and share the link, and the association, with us.