Are Online Web Design Degrees Accredited?

As you browse through Web design programs in search for a design school, you might notice that some schools promote regional or national accreditation. Some schools don’t carry any accreditation at all. Before you commit to any school, find out what accreditation means to you and to your future.

When a school obtains accreditation, this means that the school, its practices and curriculum have passed a quality-level evaluation by an accrediting body. When a school passes this evaluation, it obtains accreditation. An accreditation from a qualified organization encourages the school to continue with a certain level of performance, and it also provides the school with incentive to improve.

If you plan to attend a school that is accredited, you’ll discover that this accreditation is to your benefit in many ways. If you plan to seek federal or state financial aid, an accredited school choice makes the financial aid situation easier. Many financial institutions lean toward lending funds to a student who attends an accredited and credible school.

Additionally, if you plan to gain further education at another school in the future, an accredited school will supply you with credits that you can transfer to another school in mst cases. This ability to transfer credits is invaluable, as it helps you to save money and time. These transfers are like money in the bank, as they mean that you won’t need to take those courses again to meet the new school’s criteria.

For instance, say you attend a two-year design school that is not accredited and obtain an A.A. and a job upon graduation. After five years or so, you discover that you can’t advance in your career unless you obtain a higher degree. If you apply to a school for a B.A., that school may not accept any previous credits for your two-year stint at the previous college. This means you may need to attend college for four years to obtain that B.A., rather than two to three years.

Finally, your choice of school may affect your career. Many employers may require degrees from accredited schools for employment or for advancement. This is not discrimination, as many employers understand that education obtained from an accredited school often is superior to education obtained from a school that is not accredited. In some states, only graduates from accredited schools can obtain civil service jobs.

On the other hand, some employers feel that experience is more important than education from an accredited school. Still, you need to provide evidence of your skills and knowledge. You’ll need a portfolio that shows your best work, and often the best way to create that portfolio is through help from a professional Web design school.

With that said, some schools that are not accredited can supply excellent learning opportunities. And, these schools may not be as expensive as accredited schools. The choice is yours, and with a little knowledge about what accreditation means to you and your future, you can make a decision that best suits your situation. After all, your future boss might be an alumnus from that unaccredited school.

Some sources you can use to verify a school’s standing with accreditation include the U.S. Department of Education’s database and their information about the accrediting process. Many colleges and institutions of higher learning also carry their accreditation proudly, so you often can find that information on the college’s Web site. But, to ensure your future, be sure to check that information against information in the links above. Sometimes, a school will tout an accreditation that is, basically, worthless.

Top 10 Online Web Design Schools

Web designers Web design is a career field where persons with experience and expertise are in high demand. In order to get this expertise, you should consider enrolling in an accredited institution. Below is a list of top web design colleges where you can earn an online degree in graphics design or Website design.

AS in Web Design BFA in Graphic Design	International Academy of Design & Technology — The Associate of Science degree in Web design from the International Academy of Design & Technology is sure to prepare its graduates for careers in numerous technical fields, including Web design, digital design, Web scripting, and networking.
BS in IT-Multimedia	University of Phoenix — At Phoenix, students who study a Web design program will focus on the application of HTML, programming languages, web authoring tools, and web standards to design Web sites for a wide array of business and e-commerce applications.
AS in Web Design	DeVry University — DeVry's College of Media Arts & Technology offers a robust Web graphic design associate's degree program that enables its students to work on industry standard equipment and software, ensuring that what the student learns will be practical in a career setting.
BS in Web Design	Kaplan University — Kaplan University prides itself in having flexible schedules for those working professionals busy with their current jobs. At Kaplan's design school, students will learn all of the skills they need to pursue or further a career in Web site design.
Diploma in Web Design AS in Media Design BS in Graphic Design BS in Media Design	Art Institute of Pittsburgh — The Art Institute Online prepares its students for careers in the quickly growing field of Web design and Web marketing. The programs at the Art Institute teach how to integrate the elements of images, animation, audio, video, text, and other data for the delivery of interactive content.
AS in Web Design	Rasmussen College — Rasmussen College offers an associate's degree in Web design that will prepare students for work in Web design or Internet advertising fields. Coursework includes server side scripting, dynamic content management, networking technologies, and more.
BA in Web Development AAS in Web Development	Baker College — Baker College offers two degrees in Web Development through online courses for students looking to pursue exciting careers in an industry that is always looking for creative and skilled individuals: a Bachelors and Associates on Web Development. These programs can be completed on your own timeline and in an environment of your choosing. In addition, the online programs cut many of the costs associated with campus programs.
Website Design & Dev Cert	University of Masachusetts — The certificate program in Website Design and Development from University of Massachusetts gives students a foundation in interactive design and building dynamic websites. Students will learn to use software and programming languages like PHP and Javascript to build advance websites that follow today's standards and latest advances. This program is available through online courses and it is recommended that students have a basic understanding of HTML.
BS in Web Design & Development	Full Sail University — Full Sail University offers an online Bachelor of Science degree in Web design and development that explores one of the most rapidly developing industries on the planet. Students will learn to design and develop a Web site using programming technologies such as ActionScript, CSS, Flash, JavaScript, XHML, and XML.
BFA in Web Design	American InterContinental University — American InterContinental University offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in visual communications with a specialization in Web design. This degree prepares students for many career possibilities, including Web designer, digital artist, Flash designer, and more.
BSIS in Web Development	Strayer University — Strayer's Bachelor of Science degree program in Information Systems (IS) with a concentration in Web development teaches students state-of-the-art computer concepts, including programming, database management, networking, Web development, and Web security. Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter jobs in fields such as network security, Web development, data management, and more.
BS in Web Design BFA in Animation BS in Game Design	Westwood College — Students who successfully complete the Web design training program from Westwood will be well prepared for a career and have advanced knowledge of HTML, WFL, XML, developing industry-compliant Web design projects, and building e-commerce Web sites. Similar degrees are also offered in animation and game design.
BS in IT/Web Mgmt	South University — South University's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology / Web Administration degree program prepares students with knowledge of computer programming, e-commerce site management, Web design, systems analysis, and more.
AOS in Web Design	Sessions College for Professional Design — Art and design professionals within the AOS in web design program at Sessions College are encouraged to cultivate technical, creative, and critical thinking skills needed for a fast-changing industry. An enrollee may be able to obtain degrees in graphic design, Web design, multimedia arts, digital arts, marketing design, game art, and fine arts.
Click here to see more web design degrees...