What do you think about the online USA Pennfoster College ( note that is an accredited one !)?
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Answer:
It's accredited, but not regionally accredited. Usually, in order for, say, your credits to be able to transfer to another university, or for many employers to really respect the school, the school needs to be regionally accredited. If you're in Arizona, as this school perhaps is, you'd be looking for accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Regional accreditation would be a big step up for Penn Foster. Many schools can be accredited like Penn Foster is, and apply for regional accrediation, and because of the more stringent standards, not be accepted.
That doesn't necessarily mean that Penn Foster is a diploma mill - in fact, they aren't. They're a real school, but because of their type of accreditation, and their being a purely online school, you may have the problems I mentioned above.
When you're evaluating schools like this, as them what their graduation rate is. That can be an indicator of quality. For example, at U Phoenix online, their graduation rate is only about 4% - only 4% of students who start their degree finish it there. Most offline schools average more like 50%.
You'd actually end up saving money, being more likely to graduate, and having more employers respect your diploma if you attended your local community college.
Must you attend school online? If so, contact your local community college. A surprising number of them now have online degree programs.
If your local cc doesn't have such a program, you can obtain an associates degree via distance learning at the following schools:
- State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State
- Thomas Edison State College
- Community College of Allegheny County
- Utah Valley State College
- University of Alabama
- Dallas County Community College
- Kansas State College
- Broome Community College
- Bucks County Community College
And the community college system in Illinois appears to offer a distance associates.
SUNY is the one I have the most knowledge of, but the others seem to be respectable schools. These may be additional options for you.
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It is accredited by "The Independent Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council" -- which is pretty much like saying that some wrestling grudge match must be real because it is sanctioned by the WWE.
It doesn't matter who accredits it -- employers will not take an on-line degree seriously.
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