Are you thinking about earning a college degree to advance your career or maybe to switch to another career? If so, you may have been thinking about earning your degree online since it’s not always easy for working adults to quit their jobs to attend a college or university full time. If you’ve been checking out different online degree programs, you may have encountered Ashworth College at some point and wondered about the school’s reputation and the degrees it offers. Is Ashworth College a good school? Is Ashworth College Accredited? How do employers view Ashworth College degrees? To answer these questions it’s necessary to take a look at the school’s history, its accreditation, and its overall reputation.
A Brief History Of The College
Ashworth College was originally founded in 1987 in Norcross, Georgia, and was originally known as the Professional Career Development Institute (PCDI). The school later changed its name to Ashworth University and then again to Ashworth College. Ashworth College also operates an online high school known as James Madison High School. Ashworth College offers certificates, associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and masters degrees in a variety of subjects including business, criminal justice, education, health care, human resources, marketing, and technology.
Where Is Ashworth College Located?
The Ashworth College address is:
Ashworth College
6625 The Corners Parkway, Suite 500
Norcross, Georgia 30092
Ashworth College Accreditation
Is Ashworth College accredited? Ashworth College is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Counsel (DETC). The DETC is a valid accrediting agency and is recognized by the United States Department of Education. However, very few colleges use this form of accreditation. Nearly all legitimate colleges and universities in the United States are accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies. The job of overseeing schools in the nation was deemed to be too large for one organization and was broken down into six different agencies. Regional accreditation is considered to be the gold standard of collegiate accreditation in the United States. Each of the Ivy League schools, for example, hold regional accreditation. Ashworth College does not hold regional accreditation.
Even though the Distance Education and Training Counsel is recognized by the US Department of Education, there are a couple of things you should be aware of. First, most colleges and universities in the United States that have regional accreditation will not accept college credits earned from a DETC school. This could be a major problem if you intend to earn a degree through Ashworth College and then transfer to another school. In addition, some professions require you to graduate from a school with regional accreditation. For example, you cannot become a CPA with an accounting degree from a DETC school.
Is The School Reputable?
Since Ashworth College is a fairly new school that only offers college degrees online and only holds DETC accreditation, it does not have a stellar reputation. It is not a bad school, necessarily, it’s just that it hasn’t been around long enough to generate much interest. Of the agencies that develop lists of college rankings, Ashworth College is usually not included.
What’s The Verdict? Is There An Ashworth College Scam?
Ashworth College is not a scam in any way. The college does offer many different certificate and degree programs that can be used to gain employment in the workforce or to learn a new skill. Just be sure you are aware of the limitations of DETC accreditation prior to enrolling in any of the school’s degree programs.