What Is Accreditation? Everything You Need To Know

Think of it as a stamp of approval. Accreditation provides prospective students with insight into the accomplishments of a university as well as its ability to deliver on its promises. It is a form of quality assurance to ensure that the university has the resources and faculty necessary to effectively educate students. In the United States, quality assurance is the shared responsibility of state agencies that license or authorize colleges and universities to operate, as well as accreditors and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE).

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), as well as the USDE, are responsible for the recognition of accreditation. Each group ensures that the college or university being evaluated has proven to be fairly and effectively serving its students.

However, the process is far more involved than simply reviewing an application form. NACIQI and the USDE each research the quality of the education, coursework and student learning outcomes. They will also determine if the university’s faculty has the proper amount of expertise to educate students in their specific area of study.

In the United States, institutional and specialized or programmatic accrediting organizations are recognized by the USDE or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or both. The accreditors are private, non-governmental organizations created for the specific purpose of reviewing higher education institutions and programs for quality.

If you’re unsure if a university and its programs are accredited, you can look it up at ed.gov. The types of accreditations to look for include:

Here are some of the most prominent accreditors within the United States:

In the past, a university’s accreditation was often referred to as “regional” or “national.” However, as of July 1, 2020, the USDE no longer categorizes accrediting organizations as "regional.” As explained by the CHEA, the change was designed to “eliminate reference to "regional" accreditation, now describing regional accrediting organizations as "national" and requiring these accreditors to make public all the states or countries in which they are engaged in accrediting activity.”

Institutional accreditation is awarded to the university as a whole and encompasses all of their programs and offerings. It is essential because it shows that the university displays an overall level of readiness and preparedness to educate its students.

Programmatic accreditation is a type of accreditation given to specialized or professional programs. This accreditation can be given to programs within existing institutions or to individual, single-purpose institutions. Each program may have an agency of its own that is responsible for evaluating the coursework. It’s not often that a school will receive a program accreditation without also having institutional accreditation.

Programmatic accreditation agencies look at the faculty, resources, coursework and administration to determine if the students have the tools that they need to succeed in their education. For a program to receive accreditation, it must meet all of the designated requirements and display a consistent curriculum and results.

Examples of programmatic accreditation and recognition include:

No. Accreditation is a voluntary process and is not a mandatory requirement. Any university can apply accreditation, whether they are for-profit, non-profit, private or public institutions; however, some institutions may choose not to.

That being said, accreditation is required by the federal government for a college, university or program to be eligible for federal grants and loans or other federal funds. Similarly, accreditation is required by state governments to make state funds available and when students are allowed to sit for state licensure examinations in some professional programs.

Students are in charge of their education and where they choose to receive it. When you graduate from an accredited university, you’re putting a stamp of excellence on your degree. That stamp proves that the school you attended is held to rigorous and demanding standards. When colleges undergo the challenging process of receiving accreditation, it can potentially lead to a higher level of education with more student resources, experienced faculty and a more advanced curriculum.

Of course, choosing an accredited university doesn’t guarantee that you’ll become a successful professional in your field. What it does guarantee is that you’ll receive training and education that meets or exceeds the standards set by academic experts.

Employers are always looking to remain efficient in the hiring and training of their employees. In some instances, the effort to optimize efficiency will lead to hiring restrictions, such as students who received training from accredited universities only. This type of employer believes that he or she will find more prepared candidates by selecting the ones with the best education from a respected university.

Upon graduation, you may find yourself competing against many other candidates for the same job. The employer will likely factor in your personality, coachability and how you’ll fit into the organization, but they’ll also look at where you received your education. They may find reassurance in knowing that you went to an accredited university, and one that shares similar, compatible values.

Students and employers understand that online colleges provide the same level of education as traditional schools, but what about accreditation? Do schools that offer online education have an easier standard to follow since they don’t have in-class students? The answer is no.

Online colleges undergo the same review and testing process to receive their accreditations as on-campus universities. This ensures that students receive a quality education regardless of when and where they choose to take classes.

You might be wondering, with all of these college accreditation types, what are the guidelines that the universities need to meet to receive accreditation?