Regional Accreditation Agencies
Regional accrediting agencies provide the most highly respected type of accreditation for colleges and universities. Their role as non-profit commissions is to validate the quality of academically-oriented, degree-granting colleges and universities. There are six regional accrediting agencies that accredit schools in the states within their region. Below are answers to the most-commonly asked questions about these types of accrediting agencies. For more information about accreditation, see the articles in the BrainTrack's College Accreditation 101 section.
What role do these regional agencies have?
The purpose of these agencies is to set standards for the quality of post-secondary education and validate schools against these standards. They are made up of elected representatives from their member institutions and from the public. They evolved in the late 1800's as groups of schools within the same geographic region created agencies to improve the quality of education. The six regional accrediting agencies are recognized by both the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
What are the benefits of regional accreditation?
- Financial Aid - Schools that are accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education are eligible to offer federal financial aid and to receive federal research grants.
- Credit Transfers - Regionally accredited schools will often accept transfer credits from other regionally accredited schools whereas credits earned at schools without regional accreditation will not usually be accepted.
- Respected - Many employers respect an education received at a regionally accredited school more highly than one that is from a school without regional accreditation.
- High Quality - Students are assured that their education is of a high-quality.
- Graduate School - Students who want to attend a regionally accredited graduate school will need to have earned their bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school.
What is the difference between the six agencies?
The only significant difference is the region for which they provide accreditations. They each have their own standards and procedures but they coordinate with each other through the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions as well as through the sharing of team members and through the natural mobility of administrators and educators among the schools and regions.
What is the scope of what they accredit?
Unlike the specialized accrediting agencies, these commissions accredit institutions as a whole, not just specific programs within a school. This includes any programs offered online or at branch locations. They accredit any school that grants degrees, whether it be private, public, non-profit, for-profit, military, religiously-affiliated or online.
These agencies also accredit overseas schools that meet specific criteria although these accreditations are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
How long does it take for a school to become accredited?
Schools can apply for candidacy for accreditation once they have students enrolled and meet a number of other criteria that prove they are a legitimate institution of higher learning. They will then be granted candidacy or pre-accreditation status. They can usually maintain this status for a maximum of five years since it is assumed they will have achieved accreditation within this period.
The actual length of time it takes to become accredited varies by agency and also depends on factors such as the length of time the school has been in operation, how long it takes the school to become stable and meet enrollment projections and whether the school has to make changes to meet quality standards. Most schools become accredited within three to five years after their candidacy has been awarded.
Fast Facts
- There are nearly 3000 schools accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
- Over 17 million students attend regionally accredited schools each year.
- There are over 3500 volunteers who are members of regional accrediting teams.
What are the six regional accrediting agencies?
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Created in 1919, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are approximately 525 schools accredited by this commission.
The CIHE covers the six New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The commission is made up of 24 people elected by the member colleges. There are currently about 240 colleges and institutions accredited by the CIHE.
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
This commission accredits higher education institutions in the 19 north central states of Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming. Over 1000 institutions are currently accredited by this commission.
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
This commission accredits institutions of higher education in the seven states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. It currently has 162 institutions with accredited status.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Colleges and universities in the 11 southern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia are accredited by this commission which was founded in 1912. There are currently about 800 institutions accredited by this commission.
Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
This association was formed in 1962 and has two accrediting agencies that accredit schools of higher education: The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges which has about 150 accredited schools and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities which has accredited about 160 schools. These commissions accredit institutions in California and Hawaii as well as some U.S. territories.
Resources
U.S. Department of Education: Accreditation in the United States