Find your perfect college degree
As you start scouting for college options, you may have probably heard so much of the term “accreditation.“ Programs should be accredited. But how important is accreditation? What will this mean to the student? Will it matter if you enroll in a school that is not accredited?
Accreditation is basically a level of quality control. When schools and programs are accredited, the institution proves that they have met specific and stringent standards of quality education.
The accreditation agencies responsible for accrediting schools always make sure that every institution has enough resources, including student services, facilities, and faculty, and that they adequately meet the standards of education necessary to receive accreditation.
However, accreditation is not just about having the best facilities or top-notch student services. Accrediting agencies will also thoroughly go over the program coursework and quality of teaching.
This will allow these agencies to assess whether or not the faculty is equipped with the expertise needed in their respective majors. Provosts, professors, and presidents of other schools conduct these evaluations.
Various Types of Accreditations
Yes, there are several types of accreditations, the two main types being institutional accreditations and specialized/programmatic accreditations. Let’s break all these down.
Institutional accreditation is divided into two categories: the regional accreditation and the national accreditation. Regional accreditation is the most common type, with most universities and colleges holding this type.
Think of the whole US being divided into different state clusters. These clusters have six regional accreditors responsible for evaluating and verifying that schools in their states meet the educational standards.
National accreditation, on the other hand, is under the institutional accreditation umbrella and is common in for-profit colleges. Most regionally accredited colleges do not accept transfer credits from schools that are nationally accredited.
The second type of accreditation is the specialized or programmatic accreditation. This recognizes a particular degree program within a university or a college and not the institution as a whole. The accrediting bodies in programmatic accreditations review specific programs to guarantee that these will meet the high educational standards for that specific program.
Accreditation Matters
So, does accreditation matter to students? Even if the thought of enrolling in an accredited school or program did not cross your mind, it’s still important that you cling to the “advantage” side of a pro/con list. Why?
Most industries these days prefer to hire students who have earned accredited programs from accredited institutions.
Employers will want to be very confident when they hire new members in their team, so knowing that you have quality education from an accredited program, coupled with your seasoned and valuable skill sets, will give you a huge edge over the others.
Accreditations will also help improve a student’s chance to gain federal financial aid. Students applying for loans or federal student aid must be enrolled at an accredited school.
Another advantage of having an accredited program is that by the time you decide to pursue the next level of education, it will be easier for you to transfer credits. Most schools only accept transfer credits from accredited schools, so you have a better chance to transfer these over should you decide to pursue your education.
Dangers of Choosing an Unaccredited School
The ultimate goal of college accreditation is to protect the students’ best interests. Accreditation is an indication for first-year students and transferees that the program is of high quality. The lack of accreditation is a red flag for students as this will signify that the quality of education may be poor.
Non-accredited institutions are usually guilty of fraud and schemes and can scam students for tuition. These diploma mills create fake degrees to trick students. The programs and courses are all substandard and are mostly handled by untrained and unqualified faculty.
When you go to an accredited school, know that you are wasting your effort, money, and time because employers will never consider your college diploma legitimate. Additionally, unaccredited programs can hurt your credibility and result in crippling your job prospects. In the end, you will be dragged down to the unemployment line.
Types of Regional Accreditations
The US has six regional agencies that deliver institutional accreditation to certify the merits of colleges. These accreditation types are based on the location of the institution’s main campus. Regional accreditations include online offerings and extension centers.
As of the moment, about 85% of both private and public institutions, whether non-profit or for-profit, are regionally accredited.
Below are the six regional accreditation organizations that regularly evaluate their member schools.
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education – Starting in 1887, MSCHE has accredited degree-granting colleges located on the Mid-Atlantic coast, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico since 1887. This Philadelphia-based association, headed by Dr. Elizabeth Sibolski, currently reviews 598 institutions based on seven standards.
- New England Commission on Higher Education, or NECHE, is a non-profit, self-governing accreditation agency based in Burlington, Massachusetts. This agency accredits in six Northeast states, plus more than 65 countries. NECHE is also 135 years old and is headed by Mr. Cameron Staples. At present, there are over 2,000 institutions accredited by NECHE.
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association– Spearheaded by Dr. Barbara Gellman-Danley, HLC-NCA evaluates post-secondary institutions across 19 Midwest states from Arizona to Ohio since 1895. This Chicago-based accreditation agency uses five major criteria in accrediting 1,346 universities across the Heartland.
- Southern Association of Colleges & Schools – SACSCOC reviews over 13,000 PreK-16 institutions. This Decatur-based accreditation agency, managed by Dr. Belle Wheelan, celebrates its 125th year and covers a massive 11-state region in the Southeast.
- Western Association of Schools & Colleges – WASC is based in Alameda, California; the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College and University Commission has 221 members. This is the youngest regional agency, just recently founded in 1962, and is managed by Ms. Jamienne Studley. It is very active in nine Asian-Pacific territories.
- Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities – NWCCU is in charge of 163 members. Chaired by Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, this Redmond-based non-profit has over 100 years of experience accrediting institutions in the Pacific Northwest.
Types of National Accreditation Associations
Roughly 15% of today’s universities and colleges are nationally accredited. Most of these are religious institutes, online universities, or career-focused trade schools. Nationally accredited schools follow a for-profit model, meaning their main goal is to make money.
What differentiates this type of accreditation from regional accreditation is credit transferability. Credits from nationally accredited schools are only honored by other colleges with the same national accreditation, not regional. This is because nationally-accredited schools have more self-paced classes and less faculty-led liberal arts courses.
While this type of accreditation is not ideal, it is still better than having no accreditation at all.
Nationally accredited schools are evaluated every three to five years to assess their compliance with quality standards of education. Below are some of the more notable national accreditation agencies:
- Distance Education Accreditation Commission – This is a non-profit agency in the District of Columbia headed by Dr. Leah Matthews. Established in 1926, this agency uses a detailed rubric to accredit more than 90 online high schools and colleges across 21 states. DEAC only reviews education programs where 51% (or more) of the courses are delivered online.
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges & Schools – Based in Forest, Virginia, this national, faith-based accreditation agency opened in 1979. At present, it oversees the accreditation process of 85 theological seminaries and Bible schools across the US.
- Association for Biblical Higher Education – This is a Christ-centered non-profit that accredits 279 member institutions from Puerto Rico to Hawaii. With over 50,000 combined learners, this Orlando-based agency is managed by Dr. Ralph Enlow Jr. and adopted 11 standards in 2014.
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools & Colleges – A national agency with a net worth of roughly $7.29 million, ACCSC accredits 789 trade schools in 57 states and territories. This Arlington-based accrediting organization has grown since 1965 to evaluate programs, serving a quarter million students.
- Association of Theological Schools – Dubbed the best national accrediting commission, the Association of Theological Schools certifies over 270 North American seminaries with almost 7,500 total faculty. Dedicated to four core values- diversity, quality and improvement, collegiality, and leadership, this Pittsburgh-based agency is managed by Dr. Brian Blount and reviews ministry degrees, including the Master of Divinity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spot fake accrediting agencies?
As you scout for accredited programs and institutions, you should also discern between genuine and fake accrediting agencies. Be careful of accreditation mills—agencies that work in tandem with diploma mills and provide accreditation for a fee.
These types of organizations always go under legitimate-sounding names and use the right terminology. For example, they often use terms like ‘association’ or ‘council’.
Some even go the extra mile and list reputable schools and claim as their members to give them a more “legitimate look.” To avoid these diploma mills, also check for accrediting agencies that are recognized and approved by the CHEA or ED.
Do online programs gain accreditation?
Online programs gain institutional accreditation from the same accrediting agencies that assess on-campus programs. Online schools generally have accreditation from the same accrediting agency that assesses on-campus programs, including programmatic and institutional agencies.
How will an accreditation affect a student’s education?
Accreditation is very critical to a student’s college experience. This verifies that the school and program offer quality education and are taught by skilled instructors who are industry experts in their field. Enrolling in a regionally-accredited school means that:
- An (independent) accrediting body has investigated and assessed the school and its programs and concluded that students obtain a good quality education.
- The school instructors are well-qualified to teach.
- The institution has put up fair and consistent policies and procedures to provide the best education.
- Employers will always hire applicants who earn their program from an accredited school.
- Other schools respect this accredited school and will accept most, if not all, of a student’s transfer credits.
- A student is qualified for federal financial aid and other assistance programs such as grants and student loans.
- The student will finish a program with a specific body of knowledge.
- The school is compliant with rigorous laws that prevent discrimination and abuse.
What should you look for in an accredited institution?
The primary consideration every student should know, as far as accreditation is concerned, is whether their chosen school is regionally accredited or not. To learn more about accreditation, students should ask:
- Does the program or school have other additional accreditations? If so, what are they?
- How long is the school accredited?
- If the school, on top of its regional accreditation, also holds a lesser-known accreditation, what is the accreditation process?
- Was there ever a time the school lost its accreditation?
Other helpful ideas to help students evaluate the school’s institutional quality include:
- How many students receive financial aid?
- What is the graduate rate of the school?
- Does the school support struggling students? How?
- What are the qualifications of the class instructors?
What do accreditation agencies include in their investigation process?
While most countries regulate their colleges and universities, the US government does not. Instead, it heavily relies on independent private agencies to investigate institutions of higher learning.
The US Department of Education has a list of approved accrediting bodies, and these agencies are expected to submit stringent investigation process, including:
- Accreditation process and standards
- Operational policies
- Decision-making policies
- On-site evaluation policies
- Financial auditing process
- Training and educational materials for evaluators
- Complaint process
- Institutional bylaws and governing agreements
Overall, accreditation is a rigorous evaluation process that will identify whether a college is fit to operate. National, regional, and program-based accreditations tell students that these schools are competent and credible. Trusted and independent third-party accrediting agencies issue accreditation after colleges have passed the test and exceeded top-quality standards in education.
What does it mean for an institution to be accredited? It simply means that these schools have proven their commitment to superior teaching and academic authority. This also means that the accredited schools will continue to create improvement plans for better student experience.
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