In the United States, one of the major indicators of the quality of an institution is its accreditation status. If the school you attend is not properly accredited, you may find that your degree is not recognized in the United States or in many other countries around the world, or by other universities, professional associations, employers, and government ministries and departments.

Before you apply to study in the United States, it is very important to check with your home country’s department or ministry of education about whether there are any restrictions on recognition of U.S. degrees or U.S. universities. In particular, ask if there are specific requirements concerning the accreditation of U.S. institutions or programs.

There is no legal restriction on the use of the words “accredited,” “accrediting body,” or “accrediting association” in the United States. As a result, it is important that you check whether an institution and its programs hold accreditation from a “recognized” accrediting body or bodies. To be considered recognized, an accrediting body should meet one or both of the following criteria:

• It is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA). To find out if it is, consult the organizations’ Web sites (http://www.chea.org or http://www.aspa-usa.org), or look it up in the directory Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education. Copies of the directory are available at U.S. educational information and advising centers worldwide.
• It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. While the department does not get involved in the process of accrediting institutions, it publishes a list of accrediting agencies that it recognizes as reliable authorities on the quality of education or training provided by institutions of higher education. For a full list, see http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

Recognition by the U.S. Department of Education or membership in CHEA or ASPA is an indicator of the reliability of an accrediting association.