Accreditations FAQs
Accreditation is a process of quality assurance and review that institutions participate in, generally on a voluntary basis. Accrediting associations are most often groups of like institutions whose purpose is to establish standards by which appropriate practice can be judged. Accreditation is a symbol of the quality of an institution's educational programs. Accreditation indicates both an institution's compliance with the standards held by accrediting bodies and the reasonable grounds for believing it will continue to meet them.
University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. University of Phoenix was granted initial accreditation in 1978 and the accreditation was reaffirmed in 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, and 2002. The next comprehensive evaluation visit by The Higher Learning Commission will be conducted in 2012.
Regional accreditation is an institutional-level accreditation status granted by one of six U.S. regional accrediting bodies. According to The Higher Learning Commission, this type of accreditation evaluates the institution as a whole, assessing "formal educational activity" as well as governance and administration, financial stability, admissions and student personnel services, institutional resources, student academic achievement, institutional effectiveness and relationships with constituencies inside and outside the institution.
National accreditation is granted to specialized institutions—technical schools, health or computer related institutions, for example—that offer at least an associate’s degree. The national accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are:
- Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges
- Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
- Accrediting Commission for Career Schools/Colleges of Technology
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
- Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools
- The Association of Theological Schools
- Council on Occupational Education
- Distance Education and Training Council
Often associated with professional organizations, programmatic or specialized accreditation applies to specific programs or coursework within an institution.
Accreditation by more than one regional accrediting body is not permitted by the U.S. Department of Education. Regional accrediting bodies grant accreditation to an institution as a whole regardless of where it may operate, even locations that fall outside of a regional body's geographic scope. Additionally, the six regional accrediting bodies recognize each other's accreditations. Seeking additional regional accreditations is therefore unnecessary.
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Our business programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
What is the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)?
ACBSP is one of two major internationally active organizations which accredits business schools and programs. It is also one of only two business program accreditation organizations recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is the organization that accredits the accrediting groups. ACBSP was the first major business program accreditation organization recognized by CHEA, and this recognition has been in place since 2001.
Which business programs at University of Phoenix are accredited by ACBSP?
ACBSP has accredited the following programs: Associate of Arts in Business, Associate of Arts in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Business, Master of Business Administration, Executive Master of Business Administration, Master of Management, Doctor of Management and Doctor of Business Administration.
Why did University of Phoenix seek business programmatic accreditation from ACBSP?
The standards for accreditation by ACBSP align with the mission of teaching institutions, like the University of Phoenix, with an emphasis on student learning, supported by continuous quality improvement and faculty scholarship.
Are there other organizations that accredit business programs at colleges and universities?
There are only two major organizations that accredit business programs nationally and internationally. One is ACBSP that accredits the business programs at University of Phoenix. The other is AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International. Each of these accredits business programs at approximately the same number of colleges and universities.
Is there a difference between the two business program accrediting organizations?
ACBSP standards for academic excellence are designed to align with the mission of teaching institutions with an emphasis on student learning, supported by continuous quality improvement and faculty scholarship. This is an excellent match with the mission and focus of University of Phoenix. The AACSB standards for academic excellence are designed to align with the mission of research institutions with an emphasis on faculty scholarship and research while recognizing the value of teaching and continuous quality improvement. These do not match as well with University of Phoenix’s mission and focus on student learning and teaching.
Is it unusual for a college or university to have its business programs accredited?
Yes, among the colleges and universities in the United States that offer business programs, approximately one-quarter have earned programmatic accreditation from one of the two accrediting organizations.
Why is accreditation of University of Phoenix business programs significant? What difference does it make?
Since only about one in four business schools offer accredited programs, this means University of Phoenix is part of an elite group in the higher education community which serves business students. It means University of Phoenix has met the highest, internationally recognized standards of academic excellence in business education. It means that the value of University of Phoenix business degrees is higher in the marketplace. Our business degrees are more prestigious than degrees awarded from non-programmatically accredited business schools. It means that, unlike business programmatic accreditation awarded from other organizations, ACBSP programmatic accreditation applies to ALL levels of our business programs (associate degrees to doctoral degrees). This impacts many more students across more stages of their academic studies, with a wider range of value-added outcomes to benefit our students.
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What is CCNE?
CCNE is the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. CCNE is recognized as a specialized accrediting body, focusing on baccalaureate and graduate education nursing programs. For more information on the specific standards required to obtain CCNE accreditation, please visit: www.aacn.nche.edu/accreditation.
Is University of Phoenix accredited by CCNE?
Yes. Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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What is CACREP?
CACREP is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body formed as an affiliate of the American Counseling Association (ACA). CACREP grants specialized accreditation to "counselor education and related programs." For more information on the specific standards required to obtain CACREP accreditation please visit cacrep.org.
Is University of Phoenix accredited by CACREP?
Yes. The Master of Science in Counseling program in Community Counseling (Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona campuses) and the Master of Science in Counseling program in Mental Health Counseling (Salt Lake City, Utah campuses) are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
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