INTRODUCTION

• This site presents a directory of links to regionally accredited online graduate school programs, and related higher education sites.
• The intent of this site is to help you get a "jump-start" on the process of searching for a well-accredited graduate school program that is primarily available on the web and is an external / distance education program (external /distance program means that for the most part you don't have to attend classes on campus). In other words, an accredited graduate degree program that requires no or minimal (brick and mortar) classroom time, or campus residence, or campus visits. (You will have to attend web courses and you will have to study, of course.) To the left under "Click Your Degree Choice" are links that will take you to other pages on this site that have links to specific university and college graduate program information.
• Now-a-days there are many opportunities for college/university education on the internet. It is even possible to find accredited university doctorate degree programs. Further, there is rapid growth in this area, so that new university programs are constantly becoming available.
• As in all important decisions in life, in choosing a graduate school it is a good idea to consult a number of sources of information before making a final decision.
• Of course, accreditation is a critical issue, especially in distance education, so I have included a page of accreditation organizations that will enable you to check up on the schools you find. Accreditation by a "regional accreditation authority" is usually THE basic standard you should look for. Regional accreditation means that the merits of the degree you earn and the academic courses you take will be widely recognized across the country and by employers. I intend to include on this site only colleges and universities that have regional accreditation.
• In graduate/professional schools there are sometimes "additional/advanced" levels of accreditation. For example, it is advantageous to go to a law school accredited by the American Bar Association , a clinical psychology program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), or a library science program accredited by the American Library Association(ALA).
• If you are getting a degree in order to get employment or for professional or career development in a particular industry or in a particular business or corporate environment, it is a good idea to look at employment ads from that industry, and to talk to human resources people from that company or industry to learn what standards for accreditation apply.
• The featured graduate school links on this site take you to websites that provide more information about the graduate school's programs, and enable you to request additional information from the graduate school, if you so desire. All the information is provided to you free of charge, so you can request the info from any graduate school or from all of them. By getting this information from the school you are better assured that the info you are receiving is accurate and current. You might also receive a call from the graduate school and in that context you can ask relevant questions about financial aid, services, schedules, instructors, specialized accreditation, and so on...the information that become critical as to begin your graduate school education.
• It is a good idea to confirm on not-featured school's sites any key information you get from my site. Especially where the information concerns the school's degree requirements and programs. They can change their requirements and programs very quickly and without my knowledge.
• Another good use of this website is to use it to find online graduate-level courses and classes that can enhance your personal, professional, or career development as higher education.
• I also included a page of some OTHER COOL INFO links that may be of interest to the aspiring graduate student. It also includes some basic information and links on FINANCIAL AID.
• A very few of the master's degree programs and some doctorate programs require some resident time at the schools. The required time may vary from zero to about "two weeks" to about a year. If you are a working person who will be pursuing a degree part-time, the extent of residence requirements may be a critical factor in selecting the college or university.
• People sometimes ask "why regional accreditation"? Regional accreditation is the form of institutional accreditation that is most widely recognized by employers and the educational establishment. The six regional accreditation authorities work together to cover the entire nation, so together they actually make a national system. At the same time that a true national system is created, the chances of a particular school getting lost in the masses of schools is reduced because each of the regional authorities concentrates on the schools in their particular region. Historically the regional system grew-up because each region ... north, south, east coast, west coast ... et cetera, grew their own accreditation system based on their own regional needs and priorities. In time, these independent regional accreditation authorities recognized each other, and organized together to created the coordinated national system we have today. Regional accreditation is designed to cover an entire institution, and is essentially a certification that the institution is competent and able to deliver credible and meaningful education and degree programs. Click here for more information on accreditation.