| In the U.S., post-secondary education is not | | | | common for states to require that a college, |
| monitored by any specific agency or cabinet. Because | | | | university, or program be accredited before allowing |
| of this, accreditation was created so that the quality | | | | students to acquire licensure. |
| of education being received by students attending | | | | - Coursework or even a degree from an accredited |
| colleges and universities was more transparent. When | | | | college can help you qualify for admission to other |
| choosing a degree program, one important factor to | | | | higher degree programs. |
| consider is to check which agencies have accredited | | | | - Transfer of credits is only possible from one college |
| the school or the program in which you are | | | | to another, if both are accredited. |
| interested. Visit the school’s website and look | | | | - Applying for a job after you graduate might prove |
| for the accreditation symbols. Most colleges will have | | | | to be difficult if your qualifications or degree has |
| a page devoted to accreditation but if you are still | | | | been granted by a school that is not accredited. In |
| not satisfied, contact the issuing authority to find out | | | | short, your entire education might be proved to be a |
| more information. Even though accreditation may not | | | | waste of time, effort and money. Most employers |
| seem the likely place to begin when investigating | | | | review a job applicant's educational history to make |
| your college, it is a reliable starting point of an | | | | sure that he or she has received his or her education |
| indication of the institution’s academic offerings | | | | from a college, university, or program with |
| and to decide whether it’s the best investment | | | | accreditation and if not, this could hamper the |
| of your money and time. | | | | chances of future employment. |
| So, how does a program get accredited? In short, | | | | In spite of all the regulations and rules, keep in mind |
| schools applying for accreditation must provide the | | | | that there are college accreditation associations that |
| following information in order to be considered. They | | | | are not legitimate. Some colleges – so called |
| must provide a clear mission statement along with | | | | ‘diploma mills’ create their own accrediting |
| the program outlines and curriculum. Information on | | | | authority and then grant themselves |
| the methods of instruction and testing materials have | | | | “accreditation.” So, always be careful and dig |
| to be mentioned with the necessary study | | | | deeper when investigating the accreditation of the |
| instructions and learning resources. There has to be | | | | college of your choice. There are basically only TWO |
| evidence of proper record keeping and regular | | | | large organizations in the U.S. that recognize |
| student surveys in addition to faculty and | | | | accrediting agencies and give them the required |
| administration background information. Only once all | | | | validation. These are the US Department of Education |
| this paper work is submitted to the concerned body | | | | and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation |
| and approved, can a program receive accreditation. It | | | | (CHEA). You can visit US Department of Education |
| is obvious then that becoming accredited is a rigorous | | | | website ( and CHEA website (CHEA.org) for a |
| process and programs that receive accreditation | | | | complete list of the accrediting agencies that these |
| have ultimately proven their worth as legitimate | | | | two bodies recognize. |
| teaching institutions. | | | | To summarize, accreditation is a tool used to |
| But, why go through all this in the first place? | | | | evaluate, monitor and assess the quality and |
| Basically, accreditation assures the student of the | | | | standards of education offered by a college or |
| following: | | | | institution. It instills trust in students, parents, and |
| - That he or she is entitled to equal rights of | | | | faculty alike that the education being offered is |
| admission, registration, counseling, placement and | | | | worthwhile and of value. Another objective of |
| orientation as every other student. This is important | | | | accreditation is to achieve positive outcomes in |
| if you are opting for a long distance learning program. | | | | learning. Colleges, whose students consistently fail to |
| - If the school or college is not accredited by a | | | | achieve a particular level of performance, also come |
| nationally recognized accredited organization, the | | | | under the evaluation of the accreditation agency |
| school is then unable to participate in any student aid | | | | concerned. |
| programs offered by the government. For students, | | | | However, if a college degree program you are |
| this means that you will not be eligible for any | | | | interested in does not have a recognized |
| student loans or federal grants. Accreditation also | | | | accreditation, it also could mean that the program or |
| ensures that all Federal Aid funds are being used | | | | institution is new and has not yet met all the |
| effectively. | | | | minimum requirements for accreditation. You should |
| - Future employers will rarely reimburse the tuition of | | | | research the college as much as possible and think of |
| any employee who has attended a school that is not | | | | the long term consequences before signing up for |
| accredited. | | | | anything. Ultimately, it is your education at stake. |
| - If your career demands a state licensure exam, it is | | | | When in doubt – look it up! |