How can you find out if a college offering online degrees is really accredited?

Question

There are so many colleges out there that offer degrees online. How can you find out if one has a valid accreditation? No one wants a degree that won't be recognized in the real world! Is there a national database somewhere that can be used to check out a school?

Answer 1

Each region has it's own accreditation bodies.

University of Phoenix is accredited, as is Kaplan and Drexel.

Search for whomever they claim to be accredited through and shoot them email asking to verify the claim.

Answer 2

If they don't accept Financial Student Aid; they are not accredited.