Accreditation Is
A highly successful and well-tested system of quality assurance and quality improvement.
An outstanding example of an effective public-private partnership.
An outstanding example of reliable and responsible self-regulation.
The primary public symbol of legitimate higher education for over 100 years
- A key litmus test of threshold academic quality
- 7,000 higher education institutions and more than 19,000 programs are accredited
The primary “reliable authority” for federal and state governments funding for higher education
- Accreditation required for student access to federal and state grants and loans
- Accreditation required for institution and program access to other federal funds for research and programs
- State funds for operating
The primary reliable authority for private sector financial support for higher education
- Accreditation required to obtain private foundation support
- Accreditation required to obtain corporate support: gifts, research and tuition assistance
A major source of protection against fraud and abuse for students and consumers
- Primary bulwark against degree mills and accreditation mills
Successful in encouraging major innovation while maintaining quality over the years, such as
- The development of community colleges
- The advent of distance learning
- The growth of for-profit higher education
Cost-efficient in the use of resources to achieve its goals
- Expended more than $92 million in 2006−2007
- Operated 80 recognized accrediting organizations with 650 full- and part-time staff
- Involved more than 18,000 volunteers
- Took major action with regard to approximately 2,495 institutions and 3,965 programs
Central to states carrying out licensure of the professions
- Many states require that professional programs are accredited
- Many states require that individuals who sit for licensure examinations in the professions have graduated from accredited programs
Essential to international mobility; vital to international students, governments and higher education institutions for:
- Judgments about transfer of credit
- Judgments about recognition of qualifications and degrees
- Judgments about entry to U.S. higher education from other countries
Responsive to current climate of accountability
- Equipped to meet current challenges
- Significant progress with student learning outcomes
- Significant progress with institutional performance
- Major progress in greater transparency
- Major progress with transfer of credit
Vital to maintaining key features of higher education that have contributed to the enterprise as among the best in the world
- A diverse array of institutions
- A mission-based system
- Responsible institutional independence for academic judgment
- Responsible academic freedom
For additional information, please contact the Council for Higher Education Accreditation®.