These questions are a bit outside the scope of this site. You might get some better advice from the proper sub-forum on Reddit, like this one: https://www.reddit.com/r/careeradvice/. You could also try asking your question on Quora, which is like Yahoo! Answers but with better results!
As for "certified" institutions, you might be looking at what institutions would offer federal financial aid. You can look up schools here: http://www.savingforcollege.com/eligible_institutions/
Good luck,
Brian Boswell
VP, Research & Development
This information does not constitute tax advice and is provided for informational purposes only. Please consult your tax advisor, financial advisor, local taxing authority, and/or plan provider or sponsor for more information.