Home » Certificate vs. Diploma vs. Academic institutions can grant all three of these awards, but each award refers to a slightly different thing.
In this post, I want to discuss the differences between these three awards and how to use them in your writing. A certificate generally refers to two types of documents. In the first sense , a certificate is a document issued to a person completing a course of study not leading to a diploma. In this sense, you may be getting a certificate for completing an individual course or receiving a certificate of completion for a certification program.
If you want to read more Canadian post-secondary education stats and learn about certificate and diploma programs in Canada, check out our blog post. Here are a few tips on how to decide if a diploma or certificate program is the right fit for you.
To learn more about different levels of education, read our blog post about what is considered a post-secondary education in Canada. We offer online courses that give you the flexibility to work at your own pace, set your own schedule and study from the comfort of your home. You have plenty of opportunities to start your career journey at Robertson in one of our many diploma and certificate programs. Currently, as we do our part to flatten the curve during COVID, all our campus classes have moved online to our Virtual Classroom to allow students to study while social distancing.
If you have any questions about virtual learning and our online programs, reach out to our Student Admissions Advisors. Private colleges, on the other hand, receive the bulk of their funding through donors and grants, as well as tuition, campus housing, administrative fees, and other campus costs. As a result, private schools tend to be smaller in size and student population; classes rarely exceed 30 students. In contrast, public universities tend to be larger in size and student population.
Tuition is another significant difference. Additionally, many private schools do not offer the same level of athletics and extracurricular programs as public schools.
These differences are important to consider — but for most students seeking an online diploma or certificate, most if not all institutions offering their desired credential will be publicly funded institutions. A for-profit school is defined as any degree-granting institution that operates as a profit-seeking business.
In doing so, the school markets its product education to the public and seeks positive financial returns for the school's shareholders. Not-for-profit schools, by comparison, do not generate returns for investors; instead, all profits are channeled used to pay faculty salaries, support on-campus facilities, create student resources, and cover other institutional costs.
The term 'for-profit institution' has made headlines in recent years. Many have been criticized for below-average academic programs and poor student outcomes associated with employment, salary, and debt default or the inability to keep up with student loan payments due to low employment.
Some for-profit schools have also been accused of predatory marketing tactics that target lower-income students and promise career success through their degree programs. It should be noted this bad press has been primarily concentrated on a small number of institutions; roughly 60 have been closed in the last decade, but more than remain open to the public.
Academic experts have also identified a few benefits associated with attending for-profit colleges and universities. Tuition, for example, is typically lower at for-profit schools. Admission rates are also much higher at for-profit schools, making them more likely to accept students than not-for-profit institutions with stricter admission requirements. Here's a good rule to follow: any college that has current accreditation, publishes somewhat favorable student outcomes, and offers a diploma or certificate program in the student's desired field should be considered an acceptable choice, regardless of whether the institution generates a profit for investors or not.
More information about accreditation can be found later in this guide. Due to the relatively low number of credits in diploma and certificate programs and recent advances in educational technology, the differences between online and on-campus programs are minimal. Online learning is more popular with today's students. Attitudes toward online learning have shifted among both students and faculty members in the last few years.
While a select number of employers still prefer to hire those who receive their certificate or diploma from brick-and-mortar institutions, companies as a whole have also changed their tune about online students. For those seeking a certificate or diploma online, name recognition is an important consideration; some schools have earned positive reputations in certain industries, and those who receive diplomas or certificates from these institutions will likely be considered for top jobs in their industry regardless of whether they studied online or on-campus.
Curriculum is another key factor, particularly in fields that tend to include a large amount of hands-on training. A good rule of thumb is to prioritize online programs that closely — if not identically — mirror the diploma and certificate curricula found at the school's brick-and-mortar campus. Accreditation is essential when choosing where to earn an online diploma or certificate.
Accreditation is a comprehensive vetting process that evaluates degree-granting institutions based on their academic programs, faculty members, student outcomes, and available resources on and off campus. The accreditation process can take several months — up to a year, in some cases. In the United States, three types of accreditation are awarded to colleges and universities. The first is regional accreditation, which is normally reserved for academic institutions; a total of six regional accreditors confer this type of accreditation to schools nationwide.
The second, national accreditation, is normally bestowed upon technical colleges, vocational schools, and for-profit institutions. There are 10 regional accreditors that have been recognized by the U. Department of Education.
While they employ similar measures, regional accreditors are considered better than national accreditors in terms of the standards they adhere to when evaluating schools. The third type of accreditation is programmatic accreditation, which is awarded to specialized schools or subdivisions at larger colleges and universities.
Additionally, diploma and certificate programs in select fields — such as nursing or health education — may also receive programmatic accreditation. These bodies awards do not award accreditation on their own, but rather monitor and evaluate accrediting agencies.
Every certificate and diploma program feature a different application process. Prospective learners should plan to dedicate several months in order to complete all of the necessary application requirements. This final section will cover some of the most critical steps. Most education experts urge applicants to apply to more than one college or university.
There are three general categories for schools under consideration:. The total number of schools will depend on the applicant. The website PrepScholar recommends sending applications to a total of two to three target schools, two safety schools, and two to three reach schools. Students who plan to work while enrolled in online courses — as well as those with childcare duties — may find that an asynchronous diploma or certificate program is most conducive for their schedule.
A synchronous program, on the other hand, is ideal for those who don't have conflicting commitments and prefer weekly assignments and classroom discussions. In most cases, diploma and certificate programs are so short in length that transfer credits are not an issue. However, all credits earned at regionally accredited colleges and universities will be transferable to other accredited schools; please note that some do not accept credits from nationally accredited schools.
This is known as experiential credit. This type of credit is typically only available in technical diploma or certificate programs. In a world where a variety of advanced education programs can be completed in less than a year, is it even worth it to get a four-year degree? The short answer: It all depends on your goals. The college experience and having the educational foundation a four-year degree provides is certainly a valuable commodity to possess.
For those who are working while attending school, are looking to change career fields, or are wanting to run down their career path as quickly as they can, the traditional four-year degree is certainly not the only option. Thoroughly evaluating all your goals and taking a look at where you plan to be in the future will be critical in determining which option will equip you best for your career.
Even once you have an idea in place, the information can still be overwhelming. At Vista College, we are happy to help at any point during the process. If you need assistance determining which program is best for you or if you have questions about the differences between your options, contact us today.
Remote workers are becoming more important than ever in our changing world. Learn more about this change and how you can benefit from Read More. To have a Wondering about hybrid learning? Vista College helps you learn more about it and how it might work for Vista College breaks down seven potential career options that you might qualify for with your online logistics management
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