Accreditation is the process online colleges and universities undergo to ensure their programs meet national education requirements to be considered a legitimate institution. All of the educational institutions listed on eCollegeFinder.org are accredited online colleges and universities. In the United States the most widely recognized form of university accreditation comes from the regional accreditation boards. When people ask if you have attended an "accredited university," they usually mean a regionally accredited university. There are six regional accreditation boards across the country that commonly give accreditation to national education institutions. Attending an accredited online college or university means that the degree you receive will be recognized by other institutions and employers.

Watch out for Degree Mills offering diplomas to prospective students online. Degree Mills are fake "universities" selling college diplomas to anyone who is willing to pay the requested "tuition" amount. Unfortunately the term "college" or "university" is not legally restricted to use by accredited agencies, which means that virtually anyone can declare they are a university and begin issuing degrees almost immediately. Degree Mills take advantage of people who are unaware of accreditation and the legitimate agencies that provide accreditation. Some Diploma Mills advertise that they are "nationally accredited," or "accredited worldwide." They are "accredited," but by unrecognized agencies which they have created themselves. Check the American Council on Education’s "Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education," for more information.