What Happens When You Go To A College That is Not Accredited?

The process of accrediting a college may take a little while, but it is necessary in the long run. Colleges that have undergone accreditation are certified by an academic body. In other words, they have met specific standards and set of rules for a college. Therefore, when a college is not accredited, it may end up damaging the reputation of the college and the student as a whole. Let us know What Happens When You Go To A College That is Not Accredited?

What Happens When You Go To A College That is Not Accredited?

Several things can happen when you go to a college that has not been accredited. This means that the college is not officially recognized to be one, and all of its courses cannot be officially recognized or used either. This can cause a lot of heartache for the student as a result of the years of wastage, time, and energy put in place. Here are some things that can happen in such cases : 

The limited time for study 

The downside of studying at an accredited university can lead to a limited study time for your course. When a university undergoes accreditation and fails, it renders the particular course studied by the students invalid. This is because accreditation can only be done when colleges have passed through several standards and fulfilled certain obligations in this area. An unaccredited university lacks the fundamental learning processes and types of equipment which is needed for a solid academic program. 

Some Major Drawback Of Attending An Unaccredited College

Waste of time and resources 

Even if a student is in his/her final year, there would be a reset in their course of study as this can tamper with all their years of learning. Every college student spends a lot of money to help them in getting the requirements for learning. When you go to a university that has not been accredited, all the time and resources spent in college will be wasted. Eventually, this can affect the mental health of a student. 

Temporary or permanent closure of the college 

In most cases, when a college has been found not to meet the specific requirements for accreditation, it is being shut down immediately. This is to avoid more influx of students who would have to suffer the consequences of being in an unaccredited college in the long run. For some, it may have taken them a long time to get into college, and having it all go down the drain can be exhausting. 

Fewer job offers/consideration 

If a college has undergone an accreditation and failed, students who have passed through this college may have a hard time getting a job. Most employers run background checks on your Cv, and your education is an important part of your Cv. In the long run, when they eventually realize that your course of study or college is unaccredited, it is very likely to affect your chances of being considered for employment. 

Is it stressful to transfer from an unaccredited university to an accredited one? 

Sort of. There are a lot of disadvantages that can arise from previously studying in an unaccredited college. Some of these have been stated below; 

  • Lots of colleges might have a hard time accepting your credit transfers
  • Your previously taken courses can be declared non-standard which may result in a repetition of all fundamental courses 
  • It is quite difficult to transfer grades from an unaccredited college to an accredited one 
  • The process of getting into graduate school may be harder than usual, for a student who was once in an unaccredited university 
  • Students at unaccredited universities may find it quite hard to get financial aid or scholarships
  • The quality of education provided by an unaccredited college may be questionable in many areas, exposing the student to lots of doubts and uncertainty

All of these can stall your progress in transferring credits from an unaccredited university to an accredited one. However, you may just be lucky and have a less stressful process. 

How can I tell if my college is accredited? 

There are three ways to go about this process. You can check the university’s site, the federal database, and the accreditation agency site.

The university’s site

Most universities post their accreditation status coupled with the various programs they offer on the website. Accreditation is a huge deal and this validates the academic status of a university so you will find this on the site. Ensure that you have also checked the particular course you intend on studying and its accreditation status. This information is usually found on the “about section” of the school page or course of study page.

The federal database

The department of education in any country has an online database containing all the accredited schools in its environs. This link is open to the public and you can always check for the accreditation status of the university of your choice. This way, you will be able to tell if the accreditation status of a university is indeed official and valid.

The agency 

Every university has a particular agency that performs accreditation. You can find this by simply clicking on the accreditation tab that directs you to a link to the particular agency. After searching for the accreditation status, if indeed the university is not found lacking in that aspect, you can always go through the agency, and crosscheck the information. If you find out that the accreditation status has not been reflected in the agency, then it might be false. Doing this will eventually save you from loads of future stress as regards being in an unaccredited university.

Conclusion

Starting over is never the easiest past. Although, with due determination and courage, you will eventually get there. To avoid the above, try to be very involved in the college you decide to attend. Learn all about the courses and their stand in accreditation processes. Ensure that you have the necessary and recent information you need, to guide you in making the right decisions for college. For some, a college may be accredited but the course of study may not. This can largely affect the students in that department. Time wasted, cannot be returned. So, be prudent in the level of information you seek. Understand that it is for your educational good and be determined to give yourself a quality education.