Thread: Accreditied Universities

ABET, AACSB, HLC, regionally accredited, nationally accredited...I never knew there was so much info and things to consider when picking a place you would hope you would be able to further your education. I didn't do the research before and I guess I'm paying for it now.

As some of you may know I am thinking about transferring to a different, more affordable university (preferably something local in Texas in or close to San Antonio). I was highly considering going to the University of Phoenix but began getting doubts when I mentioned it to someone and they suggested I look into it more as it might not be a nationally accredited school and ultimately a waste of money, especially if I plan to go for a masters degree anywhere not at the UoP. So I'm trying to do some research and I'm getting very lost and confused on all of this now.

The university I currently attend is the University of the Incarnate Word, what I thought I was great school with great programs, and from my experience so far it has been great...it is just expensive as hell because it is a private university. Looking on the ABET site and theAACSB site, my school is on neither of those lists. Yet when looking on the universities site itself, it claims to be nationally accredited a number of times: http://www.uiw.edu/home/about/index.htm.

While looking into the University of Phoenix, I had heard some not so good things about them, especially with their accreditation and ability to transfer credits from there to another university (more specifically other graduate programs). Yet again though, they claim to have a number of accreditations from a number of sources: http://www.phoenix.edu/about_us/accreditation.aspx

I've done research, I've asked around, and I'm still lost. In fact, the more I look into it, the more questions I get and more confused I become.

Speaking from a professional, business level, what is the difference between a college/university that is regionally accredited, nationally accredited, has specific programs that are accredited as opposed to one that does not have those things? I know it looks better because supposedly the school is "better and reliable" and what not, but why? Does this really make any difference once you start looking for a job? Does it really matter that much what school you go to to get your degree? Is it more important to just show that you actually got the degree and went through all the loops and hoops and got it done, or is the the actual experience you get from each place actually make a difference?

I would think it is based off your experience at said university but the more I ask and look, the more conflicting info I'm getting.

This on top of trying to figure out what is more cost effective and beneficial to me, I'm so lost and confused.   :3

You and me both. I wasted a ton of money going to a private college, and I got squat. Poor education, and non-transferable credits.

Good ole state universities. They rock..

Texas State is an accredited univeristy. We are only 45 mi away from SA.

Eat em Up Eat em Up Go Cats Go!

UTSA or Texas State

A&M Kingsville has ABET certs for engineering, if that is what you are looking into.

Texas State doesn't. Thats why I am here now.

Originally Posted by CivilWars

UTSA or Texas State

That's what I keep hearing/seeing. I guess the only thing left to do is to see if the drive to Texas State would be worth it, or if living in the dorms/in San Marcos or if UTSA would actually be worth it. Parking is horrible at UTSA though, they just added a new parking garage but you have to pay to use it on top of your normal parking fees...

Just more research to do I suppose...got plenty of time to do it too.