All online degree programs aren’t created equal, so you need to check them out before you sign on the dotted line and commit to a school. The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are the two agencies that approve accrediting agencies in the U.S., so your school should be accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies to be legit. Choosing a school without accreditation can be a real headache in the future.

You need to know that accreditation determines what programs your school offers. For example, schools can’t take part in student assistance or student loan programs, so you can’t get tuition assistance if you need it. Other schools and most employers don’t recognize degrees from these schools, so your diploma may end up just a worthless piece of paper once you graduate.

A non-accredited school won’t offer services you may need too, like counseling, financial aid, tutoring, and a lot of other services that traditional, acceptable schools always offer to all their students. If it sounds iffy, check with other schools or students to learn about the program’s reputation online and offline.

Are you planning to transfer your credits to another school sometime in the future? An unaccredited program won’t allow you to do that, because legitimate schools won’t accept credits unless the program is accredited. Some people learn that when they try to transfer credits in the future, and there’s nothing they can do at that point.

Your online college may try to tell you differently, but don’t believe them. There are only six agencies across the U.S. that accredit schools. They are the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. There is also the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) that offers accreditation for the top online degree programs. If your program isn’t accredited by one of these agencies, it’s not legit, and no amount of arguing can make it so.

An online degree program is the right choice for anyone in this busy world. But before you choose a program, make sure the school is properly accredited by the right agency, and don’t listen to statements to the contrary. When you’re finished with your degree, you can rest assured you got the best education possible to further your career.