Thinking of getting a degree online? Before you start you need to understand about accreditation and the right questions to ask from online universities and colleges.

Many people are going back to school to earn a degree and they’re doing it online for two reasons, cost and convenience. But not all online universities are created equal in the eyes of some employers and other universities.

Make sure the online university you’re thinking about is accredited through a board of accrediting agencies. Don’t just take the school’s word for it; you need to verify that an accreditation actually exists. If you decide to take your education to the next level you don’t want to discover that the next university you apply for does not recognize your online degree.

Because a school is accredited doesn’t mean that you’re getting the best education either. Some school can obtain an accredited status by passing on the bare minimum of requirements. If you’re going to spend the time learning you want make sure you’re getting the best education possible. So make sure the agency doing the accreditation is approved by U.S. Department of Education. It’s the part of the government that, among other things, regulate which accreditation agencies are legitimate and which are not. If an agency does not have USDOE approval stay away from the institutions that they accredited.

Getting a degree to advance your career can be a wise move. There are many degree programs so you need to consider which one is right for you. If you’re having trouble making a decision on your higher education moves, you might want to consider talking to a professional career consultant to evaluate your educational goals. The last thing you want to do is spend months and maybe even years getting a degree only to discover you really don’t want to pursue that career path.
Another thing you want to consider is the longevity of the career you’re going back to school for. Technology is changing the face of the business landscape and many jobs are either being outsourced to other countries with a cheaper labor force, or being eliminated altogether due to obsolesce. Research what you are considering for your college degree, as it might not be there in a few years.

You’re going to spend a lot of time cracking the books; it makes sense to spend at least a little time researching online universities first.