Why college accreditation matters

Accreditation is one of those big, academic-sounding words that sounds intimidating. A college or university’s accreditation status can play into everything from the quality of a student's education to financial aid eligibility to how employers view their degree. Yes, it matters. Here is a look at why.

So, what exactly is college accreditation and how do colleges get it? What are the different types of accreditation, like regional accreditation and programmatic accreditation? And how do colleges and programs earn it? 

As important is what accreditation means for a student as they pursue their degree.

Students who attend accredited institutions for a degree can:

• Be confident that the institution provides a quality education
• Be eligible for federal grants and loans--program specific

When a school or program says is it accredited, it is saying it has a seal of approval or a good rating, according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). To get and keep the seal or rating, every part of a school or a program is examined and evaluated by experts.

Generally, accreditation is the process of reviewing colleges, universities, institutions and programs to judge their educational quality — how well they serve students and society. The result of the process, if successful, is the award of "accredited status."

There are two types of higher education accreditation: institutional and programmatic. Let’s define each:   

Formerly known as regional accreditation, institutional accreditation is an accreditation that applies broadly to a college or university, rather than specific programs. This type of accreditation serves as assurance that a university meets the quality of standards required to effectively educate its students and has processes in place to continually evaluate and improve its offerings.

• Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Institutional and programmatic accreditation are critical determiners of the quality of an institution or program. Degree-seekers should ensure that the institutions they are considering are accredited, whether they're pursuing online degrees or an in-person program. Here are a few additional reasons why accreditation matters:

• Encourages confidence that an institution's or program’s presentation of the education it provides is fair and accurate, including the description of services available to students and the accomplishments of its graduates.

• Assures that a neutral, external party, the accrediting organization, has reviewed the quality of education provided and has found it to be satisfactory, based upon appropriate peer expertise.

• Confirms that institutions and programs have processes in place to meet changes in thinking within the academy and in the public’s expectations.

• Provides for eligible students to have access to federal financial aid if they attend institutions accredited by accreditors that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Assists with the transfer of credits among institutions or admission to graduate school, with student mobility more likely to be successful among accredited institutions as compared to unaccredited institutions. Always remember, transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

• Graduation from an accredited program may be required by a state to be eligible for licensure in a particular profession.
• Signals to prospective employers that an educational program has met widely accepted educational standards.

College accreditation is carried out through non-governmental organizations created in whole or in part by the higher education community. In several fields, especially the health professions, graduation from an accredited program may be required to be eligible for a license to practice in a particular state.

All accrediting organizations create and use specific standards both to ensure that institutions and programs meet threshold expectations of quality and that they improve over time. These standards address key areas such as faculty, student support services, finance and facilities, curricula, and student learning outcomes.

Accrediting organizations use common practices, including a self-review by the institution or program against the standards, an on-site visit by an evaluation team of peer experts and a subsequent review and decision by the accrediting body about accredited status. This review is repeated every three to 10 years if the institution or program is to sustain its accreditation.

When a school decides to pursue college accreditation, it may contact an accreditation agency as part of a voluntary but binding system. The independent auditors or agents work together to review whether the higher learning institution has met the agency’s standards for accreditation.

Not all accreditors are created equal, so it’s important to do some homework here, too. Some accrediting agencies apply more scrutiny than others, and each accrediting agency’s process is nuanced in terms of criteria and requirements.

In fact, according to the educational services company Peterson’s, "Since accrediting agencies vary in their quality standards, some are considered more prestigious than others. Which one a school pursues depends on what standard of quality the school hopes to achieve and to maintain."

Many accreditors implement a regular cycle of extensive self-evaluation, comprehensive evidence-based evaluation by members of peer institutions or programs, ongoing reporting, and a focus on continuous quality improvement.

It’s important that a school be accredited by an agency that is itself credible. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes certain accreditors, including the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which accredits various campus-based and online schools. Another good resource is the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which recognizes reputable institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations.

Yes, accreditation matters for any college or university whether it’s online, on campus or a hybrid of both. The same expectations for quality are applied, even if the models of delivery are different. This goes for for-profit and nonprofit educational institutions too.

College accreditation is important, according to the Higher Learning Commission, an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, because it ensures that a student’s education is recognized as high quality across the board, whether that’s by an employer, with a licensing board or at another university.

HLC works with institutions to define, develop and implement comprehensive strategies for institutional improvement. It also offers professional development training for colleges to strengthen the quality of their programs and curriculum, faculty, research and scholarship and support services.

Becoming an online student offers distinct benefits to nontraditional students. Online courses can be completed one at a time, for example, for easier integration with an individual's pre-existing commitments. The requirements and expenses of on-campus living are eliminated. And out-of-state considerations are removed. 

It’s important that a school be accredited by an accrediting agency that is itself credible. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes certain accreditors, including the Higher Learning Commission. Another good resource is the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA recognizes an extensive list of accrediting bodies, but there are seven that typically accredit colleges and universities in the U.S.

Students can look up potential or current schools’ college accreditation by searching the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education’s accreditation database or CHEA. It might be a good idea to note how long an institution has been accredited as well.

For some students, programmatic or specialized accreditation may also be important. Specific programs, such as business degree programs, can be accredited. For students thinking of applying for a nursing, education, healthcare, counseling or business program at a certain school, see if those departments offer programs that have programmatic accreditation.