How to Become an Accredited University or College in the USA
When building a house, you want to ensure that your general contractor has all the required skills and knowledge.
Well, the same rule holds true when it comes to post-secondary education. However, in this case, the skills and knowledge translate to your university or college being accredited.
After all, students interested in obtaining tuition assistance or getting a degree in a professional field are looking for accredited universities.
But what is accreditation, and why does it matter?
Accreditation is a formal review of post-secondary institutions and is focused on ensuring that the university or college delivers the quality of teaching that it has committed to.
This commitment helps students know that they are getting what they pay for. In the United States, students can only receive loans and grants if they are enrolled in universities and colleges that have been accredited.
When it comes to the different types of accreditation, there are two distinct categories:
- Institutional
- and Programmatic or Specialized
With institutional accreditation, you're looking at the whole academic institute.
Programmatic or specialized accreditation is a bit different, though - here, the audit is of the program itself, which could include a review of the curriculum, the faculty teaching it, and how students’ learning is being evaluated.
With institutional accreditation, universities can choose from either national or regional accrediting bodies.
And while regional accreditation mainly focuses on a specific geographic area, national accreditation agencies accredit institutions in any state, regardless of the location.
There are numerous national accrediting bodies and exactly seven regional ones in the United States. To learn more about each one of these, make sure to check our Blog and dedicated “Get Accredited” resource sections.
If you're unsure which option is right for you, or if you're just stumped about accreditation in general, we're here to help. Just call us or email us today!
We’ve been helping clients establish universities in the US for over a decade, and we look forward to helping you, too.
