Accreditation And Online Colleges

Accreditation demonstrates to prospective students that a college meets guidelines and criteria related to academic quality, curriculum, faculty qualifications, and more. Accreditation also indicates that an employer will take your degree seriously after graduation and that you can easily transfer credits to another institution.

All kinds of institutions — including community colleges, public schools, and private universities — can be accredited.

Below, learn more about accreditation to choose the best college for your career goals.

Understanding Accreditation

Academic accreditation is used to assure academic quality. As a student, attending an accredited college also allows you to access federal financial aid. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) are responsible for accreditation and certifying specific accrediting bodies.

Types of Accreditation

Accrediting bodies uphold the standards for institutions that offer in-person and online courses and programs. Universities, colleges, trade schools, and vocational schools can all earn institutional accreditation from regional or national accrediting bodies. Some programs may also receive programmatic accreditation related to a specific field.

Attending an accredited institution makes it easier to transfer credits and better prepares you for professional licensure exams or certifications. Below is an overview of each kind of accreditation.

Institutional Accreditation

Traditionally, schools could be nationally or regionally accredited. National accrediting bodies awarded accreditation to trade schools, vocational colleges, and bible schools. For-profit institutions may also hold national accreditation.

Regional accrediting organizations serviced schools in a given region like New England or the North West. Most public and private nonprofit four-year institutions are regionally accredited. However, in 2020, ED eliminated the distinction between regional and national accreditors, unifying them as institutional accreditors.

You can find a full list of accrediting bodies on CHEA's website and the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, including institutional and programmatic accreditation.

Programmatic Accreditation

In addition to institutional accreditation, a school's specific programs may be programmatically accredited. For instance, business programs are often accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and social work programs are often certified by the Council on Social Work Education.

In certain disciplines, a program must be accredited to qualify for a licensure exam. CHEA provides a complete list of programmatic accrediting bodies.

Why Accreditation Matters

Students need to verify an institution's accreditation status because it can affect many aspects of their education and career prospects after graduation, including:

• Federal financial aid: Federal financial aid is typically only available to students attending accredited colleges or trade schools.
• Transfer credits: Most institutions only accept transfer credits from other accredited colleges and universities.
• Grad school acceptance: Grad schools usually require applicants to possess a degree from an accredited college.
• Employment and licensure: Many professional licensure exams require that prospective test-takers have an accredited degree. Employers also look for applicants with an accredited degree, giving you better job opportunities.

Red Flags and What to Avoid

Watch out for these common misleading accreditation tactics:

• Wrong agency: Be wary if a school lists an accrediting agency not approved by ED.
• Expired accreditation: If a school or program states out-of-date accreditation information on its website, dig deeper to find its status.
• Low standards: A degree you can complete in significantly less than the standard time or with weak academic standards may indicate a program that's not accredited.

Who Accredits Colleges?

Colleges are accredited by institutional accrediting bodies. Examples of regional accreditors include the Higher Learning Commission, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Accrediting organizations evaluate student learning outcomes, faculty qualifications, university resources, and other factors to determine whether schools should earn accreditation. Below are the steps colleges and universities must take to earn accreditation:

1. Self-Evaluation

Before requesting accreditation, colleges must determine that they meet all the academic and institutional standards. Criteria include financial health, a clear institutional mission for higher education, and at least one year of granting degrees.

Schools must then complete a thorough self-evaluation that provides evidence of their institutional resources, academic effectiveness, and institutional processes. Colleges usually need to hold licensure from the state before applying for accreditation.

2. Onsite Evaluation

After a school completes a self-evaluation, the accrediting agency performs a site visit. During this visit, accrediting representatives interview students, faculty, and staff and may invite independent expert reviews.

The onsite evaluation team typically includes 5-7 peer reviewers, whose names are sent to the applying institution before the site visit.

3. Ongoing Assessment

All accredited colleges and universities must undergo additional site visits and periodic comprehensive assessments. While the timing varies by accreditation path and institution, these typically occur every 4-6 years. All institutions must also submit annual reports.

4. Maintaining Accreditation

Maintaining accreditation signifies to prospective students that the institution still meets rigorous academic and institutional standards.

To maintain accreditation, colleges must meet the same academic, financial, and administrative standards and submit annual reports. The reevaluation process includes additional on-site visits with peer reviewers. Accrediting bodies provide resources and guides to help institutions meet and maintain the rigorous accreditation criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions about Accreditation

Are community colleges accredited?

Yes, most community colleges are accredited. However, it's always worth double-checking the accreditation status of any college or university before enrolling. You can check a college's accreditation by searching for its name on the NCES website.

Are online colleges accredited?

Yes, many online colleges are accredited. In the case of an accredited college with a physical campus, accreditation usually extends to online degree programs. You can check for institutional and programmatic accreditation from your college's website or with CHEA or NCES.

What accreditation should colleges have?

A college should have institutional accreditation, which applies to the entire school and all of its programs, both online and on campus. You can also look for programmatic accreditation from specific professional accreditation bodies related to, for example, nursing LPN to RN programs, online MBAs or business degrees, or law degrees.