Catholic College and University Accreditation

Accreditation is a form of independent, professional certification that focuses on schools and programs in a particular field. Accreditation of Catholic colleges and universities therefore assures you and your parents that the school adheres to high quality standards. Which means the programs are delivered by qualified faculty and are constantly updated to follow the changes and meet the needs of the relevant industry or working world. Attending an accredited school or program is often thought to make you more competitive on the job market.

Accreditation in the US takes place at different levels. At the highest level, governmental and other agencies govern and recognize the accrediting bodies. For instance, the US Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Association (CHEA) and the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) grant power to associations that oversee accreditation at the regional, institutional or program level.

Regional: The US Department of Education recognizes 6 distinct higher educational regions, each of which is overseen by a different accrediting body. These are:

This is the type of accreditation most commonly referred to and is for a college or university as a whole, not for individual programs. Accreditation by these regional agencies isn't automatic: this is voluntary accreditation, and not all schools choose to become accredited.

Institutional: Depending on the kind of college or university it is (e.g., private, public) it may also be accredited by institute-type specific agencies. Catholic colleges and universities are private; therefore, accreditation will be according to this type of institution.

Specialized: Specialized accreditation is a type of accreditation that focuses on specific areas of study and individual programs. This is sometimes called professional accreditation, because it means specific programs meet the national standards for that field of study. Catholic colleges and universities cover a very wide range of programs, and each college usually has a page on its website listing both institutional and individual program accreditation.

When assessing quality, you can also look at whether a school or program has any memberships in, or endorsements by, professional associations which reflect certain standards of quality, but this is not the same as official accreditation. For instance, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) does not accredit programs, but is a national organization committed to maintaining and promoting the quality of America's Catholic post-secondary education.

Accrediting Agencies, Depending on Institution-Type

Private colleges
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Established: 1956
Location: Washington, DC
Web address: www.acics.org
Scope: Accredits private postsecondary institutions offering certificates or diplomas, and postsecondary institutions offering associate's or bachelor's degrees in professional, technical, or occupational programs.

Some examples of program-specific accrediting agencies
National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation (NASAD): Accredits US institutions and colleges/ schools within institutions offering degree-granting programs in art and/or design-related disciplines.

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET): Accredits university and college programs in engineering, applied science, computing and technology in the United States.

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC): Accredits nursing education programs in the US leading to certificate, diploma or professional degree (associate's, bachelor's, master's).

There are many, many more professional accrediting agencies. Consult our program page "accreditiation" sections for more on these agencies.

Why Accreditation?
The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accrediting agencies have no legal control over institutions or programs; they promote certain standards and approve or renew membership of institutions that apply and meet the accreditation standards or criteria. Certain licensing programs may require that you've been through a course of study with specialized accreditation, because it ensures that you have been taught by faculty qualified to teach in that field. The US Secretary of Education and CHEA each maintain and publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies, and most institutions attain eligibility for Federal funds by holding accredited or pre-accredited status with one of the recognized accrediting agencies.

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