Reviewed by Josianne Campbell
Most colleges claim to be accredited by state, regional, or national governing bodies. But what do those ratings mean, and who stands behind them? And what is the difference between regional versus national accreditation? Let’s take a closer look.
What is college accreditation?
The U.S. Department of Education says it best: “The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality.”
Why does college accreditation matter?
Think of it as an insurance policy that protects the value of your education. There is not much point in investing a lot of money in a school that is not accredited by appropriate agencies. Example: If you received training in medical coding from an unaccredited school, that credential isn’t worth much when you apply for jobs.
What’s the difference between regional vs. national accreditation?
This gets a bit complicated. The U.S. Department of Education says: “The U.S. Department of Education does not have the authority to accredit private or public elementary or secondary schools, and the Department does not recognize accrediting bodies for the accreditation of private or public elementary and secondary schools. However, the U.S. Department of Education does recognize accrediting bodies for the accreditation of institutions of higher (postsecondary) education.” Translation: The U.S. Department of Education doesn’t accredit schools directly. It does, however, recognize organizations that provide to individual schools. And it gets even more complicated, because there are lots of different USDE-approved accrediting agencies. Some are regional, while others accredit specific types of schools. Here’s a partial list.
College accreditation bodies with nationwide reach
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges & Schools - Council on Occupational Education - Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Regional college accrediting bodies (partial list)
Regional accreditation is considered the highest level or gold standard. It's the most widely used and recognized level of college accreditation. - Middle States Commission on Higher Education (DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) - New England Association of Schools and Colleges (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) - North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission, (AZ, AR, CO, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, NM, ND, OH, OK, SD, WV, WI, WY) - Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (AL, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA) - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA)
How do I find out if an institution is accredited by appropriate agencies?
Colleges and universities list their regional and national accreditation status on their websites. If you have any doubts, contact the accrediting agencies listed above, others that are listed on the college’s website, or your state’s department of education.
Are online institutions subject to the same accreditation standards as other institutions?
Not necessarily – and here the issue of accreditation becomes somewhat complicated. For example, let’s look at StraighterLine, a provider of high-quality, low cost general education courses which can count for credit towards your degree and save you money. StraighterLine itself is not a college. Only colleges and universities are accredited. Students take individual online courses through StraighterLine and then transfer them directly into the accredited college where they plan on earning their degree. All of the schools in StraighterLine's network are regionally accredited colleges. All StraighterLine courses have also received ACE CREDIT recommendations to earn college credit. The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service, ACE CREDIT, helps students gain academic credit for courses and examinations taken outside traditional degree programs. ACE has reviewed and recommended all StraighterLine courses for college credit. To date, over 2,000 colleges and universities have accepted StraighterLine courses for credit. Before enrolling in online courses, be sure to ask about the procedures that you must follow if you want to transfer credits to other institutions. And if you have questions about StraighterLine regarding accreditation, earning ACE Credit, or transferring courses to your school, call the StraighterLine enrollment team (877) 787-8375. We are here to help!
Are certification and college accreditation the same thing?
No. College accreditation pertains to the school. Certification means that you have passed an exam or met other requirements that certify you to practice a trade or profession. Certification is often overseen by state or regional agencies. Example: To become a licensed massage therapist in Missouri, you have to meet the requirements of the Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage.
Do colleges ever lose their accreditation?
Yes, they do. If that happens to your school, it can spell bad news for your work and career. That’s why it pays to check with all applicable accrediting agencies to verify the status of any school you are considering. StraighterLine has over 150+ accredited partner colleges that guarantee credit transfer of our courses based on the course equivalency guides that we have with each school. Thousands of other schools have accepted our courses for credit.
