The Benefit of an Accredited Degree in the Job Market
We make dozens, if not hundreds, of decisions every single day - which shoes to wear, which movie to see, which restaurant to eat at, which street to take. Many of these decisions are based purely on instinct, others on word of mouth, and others on deduced information and factual evidence. When you are applying for a job, your potential employer will go through the same decision making process when determining who is right for the position. However, in almost all instances, the employer will base his decision on factual evidence. This is where an accredited degree comes in. A degree from an accredited institute is the factual evidence that testifies to the quality of your education.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is the process of self-review and peer-review for improvement of academic quality and public accountability of institutions and programs, as suggested by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Essentially, accreditation is a stamp of approval that the U.S. Department of Education and potential employers recognize your college degree as a valuable post-secondary education.
There are currently over 7,000 institutes and 20,000 programs that have gained accreditation through the various regional, national, and specialized accrediting agencies, as reported by CHEA. However, there are several thousands of unaccredited institutes both online and on campus, many of which run diploma mills scams, or college degrees that are fraudulent and lack proper standards and supervision by the Department of Education.
Accreditation's Value in the Job Market
In almost all industries, from trade positions to management positions, the employer will insist that your degree or certificate comes from an accredited institute or program. Employers value accreditation because students graduating from an accredited program have attained an assured level of competence.
The National Center for Educational Statistics reported a 23% increase in college attendance from 1995 to 2005 with more and more students recognizing the importance of obtaining post-secondary education for financial and career security. This means that competition in the job market for graduates will be stiff. A degree from a respected and accredited institute is just one way to compete for your place in the job market and prove you are the right person for the position.
Additional Benefits to Accreditation
Accreditation is not only offers you the workforce assurance you want after college, but it can also help while you are earning your degree. CHEA reports that, apart from providing security in the workforce, accreditation also offers the following benefits:
- Assures a threshold of quality for students, parents and the public. You have assertion that your educational investment will be of value.
- Provide access to federal and state funds. Only students who attend institutes and programs with recognized accreditation by the US Department of Education will be eligible for financial aid.
- Eases the transfer of credit from one institute to another. If you choose to obtain additional post secondary education, accredited institutes degrees will be accepted by other accredited institutes making it easier to return to school for a bachelor's master's, Ph.D. or certificate.
Article Resources:
Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
National Center for Educational Statistics
US Department of Education
