Accreditation of College and Postsecondary Institutions

In the United States, no one federal governmental entity issues "accreditation" of domestic postsecondary schools or programs. Instead, a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which operate on a regional and/or national basis, assess and issue accreditation endorsements. These NGOs are typically assessed by peer organizations and U.S. Department of Education, the latter of which maintains a list of recognized accrediting agencies and accredited institutions. Any institution accredited by a recognized agency should appear in the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. Due to agencies' individual criteria and processes, however, colleges and other postsecondary institutions often receive varying standards of oversight throughout the country. Essentially, though, legitimate accreditation is the country's most widely recognized symbol of collegiate and postsecondary-education quality. Although national oversight of the accreditation process has occasionally changed hands over the last 50 years, the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), in cooperation with the Department of Education, currently recognizes and monitors accreditation endorsements from the private, nongovernmental sector.

Accreditation in the United States and Abroad

Although some accreditation agencies conduct evaluations of foreign educational institutions, CHEA and the Department of Education do not officially assess or verify accreditation of educational programs that are administered outside the United States. Consequently, foreign schools and programs, even those accredited by recognized agencies, are not included in the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

Types of Accreditation

Agencies issue two basic types of educational accreditation, one identified as "institutional" and one referred to as "specialized" or "programmatic." The latter designations usually apply to specialized or vocational programs, whereas the former is normally used for universities and colleges.

Accreditation: Why is it important in a College or Postsecondary School?

• Without nationally recognized accreditation, a school is not eligible to participate in government student assistance programs, which means you can't get federal grant or loan money to attend. Financial aid from private institutions almost always entails higher interest rates and additional unfavorable terms.
• Accredited schools rarely recognize or accept credits from unaccredited institutions or programs.
• Most employers who offer tuition assistance will not reimburse tuition for unaccredited schools.
• In distance learning situations, accreditation agencies commonly attempt to ensure that accredited institutions achieve the same educational outcome standards required of traditional classroom-based programs.

Unaccredited Education: Are there any Benefits?

An educational institution or program may not be accredited for any number of reasons. The organization could be a scam, or it could be a wholly new and groundbreaking institution that's simply waiting on accreditation. If you're looking mainly for personal enrichment, and/or not seeking a specific degree or certification, an unaccredited program may meet your needs. Unaccredited education is often times much less costly than alternatives; it's also typically less time-consuming and more flexible in many ways. The main problem is that employers and educators will rarely recognize educational credit, quality, or any sort of quantifiable certification from an unaccredited source-if none of those is your goal, consider giving the options a look, just look carefully.