The prevalence of online "diploma mills" and counterfeit degrees has unfortunately created some skepticism around the legitimacy of diplomas from online institutions. Career Online High School is not a diploma mill. Career Online High School is accredited by:
- The AdvancED Accreditation Commission
- The national commission that confers the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI)
- North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI)
- The Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) accreditation seals
While Career Online High School itself is a new institution and may not immediately be familiar by name, it is easy to demonstrate that the school is recognized across the nation as a quality school system, delivering an Advanced accredited online high school diploma. It is important to understand that a high school diploma alone (from any type of accredited high school), is not enough to guarantee a student admission into a college or university, as each postsecondary institution has its own minimum standards including admissions exams, standardized test scores and other criteria.