What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is the system of recognition and quality assurance for institutions and programs of higher education in the United States. When deciding on a program of study, one of your main concerns should be whether the program is properly accredited. This chapter explains what accreditation is, how it happens, who carries it out, and why it matters to you. Accreditation is a complex issue, so we recommend that you read the entire chapter to ensure you fully understand this important topic.

In most countries, the central government is responsible for maintaining the quality standards of institutionsof higher education. In the United States, however, the federal government does not regulate colleges and universities in any direct way. Each of the 50 U.S. states has a system of licensing institutions of higher education, which allows them to conduct business and issue degrees legally in that state. You might think that if a school is licensed, it means that it has met certain minimum educational standards. However, licensing requirements vary greatly from one state to another and you cannot use licensing by a state education department as an indication that an institution meets minimum standards. So how can you know if an institution or program does meet an acceptable level of quality? In the United States, institutions and programs that meet and maintain certain educational standards are said to be “accredited,” or to hold “accreditation.” Accreditation is carried out by organizations called accrediting bodies or accrediting associations, which determine and regulate these standards. Being licensed in a particular state is not the same as being accredited. The U.S. Department of Education defines accreditation as “a status granted to an institution which indicates that it is meeting its mission and the standards of the association and seems likely to continue to meet that mission for the foreseeable future.” To be an accredited institution of higher education in the United States, an institution has to meet and adhere to the standards of a particular body or association.