Regional v. National Accreditation: Why You Should Care
Most students don’t even think to ask whether their school is regionally or nationally accredited, but this can be a huge mistake. Intuitively, you would think that nationally accredited programs provide more than regionally accredited programs; however, this isn’t necessarily the case. Both accreditations have their ups and downs and both are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. So make sure to read this article so you don’t kick yourself later.
Most traditional schools (Big Ten, Pac-10, etc.) are actually regionally, not nationally accredited. This is because regional accrediting agencies started as leagues of traditional colleges, and national accrediting agencies started as associations of institutions that served schools that weren’t originally colleges or universities. One accreditation isn’t necessarily better than the other. It just depends on your situation. The following is a list of questions to ask before you choose:
1) Is there any chance you will transfer your credits?
Nationally accredited schools almost always accept credits from regionally accredited schools, but regionally accredited schools often DO NOT accept credits from nationally accredited schools. This is the most important thing to consider.
2) Are you planning to attend graduate school?
Again, nationally accredited graduate programs almost always accept regionally accredited undergrad degrees, but regionally accredited programs DO NOT always accept nationally accredited undergrad degrees.
3) Are you on a really tight budget?
Some nationally accredited programs are less expensive than regionally accredited programs, and non-accredited programs are sometimes even cheaper.
4) Do you plan to work for a big company?
Most employers would never even think to ask whether your college was regionally or nationally accredited, but they might ask whether it was accredited. I would especially worry about big companies with trained Human Resource professionals. They would be the most likely to ask about it.
5) Are you seeking career advancement or personal enrichment?
If you are just going back to school for fun or to meet the requirements of your current employer, then it might not matter whether the school is accredited at all.
In conclusion, it totally depends on your situation, but if you ask the right questions then you’ll make the right decision and make your life a lot easier.
October 9th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I was lucky enough to find your website through google. I have been searching all day for this information, Thank You.
March 13th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Good information, but I would like to talk about the following information (I’ll cut and paste), I’ll comment between the groupings:
1) Is there any chance you will transfer your credits?
Nationally accredited schools almost always accept credits from regionally accredited schools, but regionally accredited schools often DO NOT accept credits from nationally accredited schools. This is the most important thing to consider.
your sentence, “…, but regionally accredited schools often DO NOT accept credits from nationally accredited schools.” I would be more clear here, because the word “often” allows for-profit schools to twist this ambiguity when misleading potential students into signing a contract to enroll into their college. Therefore, I would like to expand on your use of the term “often.” The only regionally accredited colleges who will accept nationally accredited college credits are for-profit, regionally accredited colleges. The non-profit, regionally accredited colleges (or traditional colleges as you put it) will not accept nationally accredited college credits.
The for-profit industry is making a big push for attaining regional accreditation and they are trying to survive by using a misleading (but accurate statement) when answering questions about transfer of credit. They answer, ” It’s up to the receiving institution.” This is true, but misleading nonetheless, because they are purposely instructing staff members to answer in this fashion.
2) Are you planning to attend graduate school?
Again, nationally accredited graduate programs almost always accept regionally accredited undergrad degrees, but regionally accredited programs DO NOT always accept nationally accredited undergrad degrees.
The same here for my answer above…
3) Are you on a really tight budget?
Some nationally accredited programs are less expensive than regionally accredited programs, and non-accredited programs are sometimes even cheaper.
This is actually the opposite. YOu’ll find that nationally accredited colleges are much more expensive than “traditional” schools due to there is no built-in tax revenue like state schools have. Even private, non-profits get a little tax money (per head). The for-profit industry receives no tax money, but in a way do by being eligible for financial aid (which is taxpayer money) if they attain national or regional accreditation. So they have to pay more and make a profit, i.e. Westwood College (for profit) charges more than $70,000 for a bachelor’s (likely more now)
April 7th, 2010 at 5:17 am
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August 9th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
“This is actually the opposite. YOu’ll find that nationally accredited colleges are much more expensive than “traditional” schools due to there is no built-in tax revenue like state schools have.”
You’re on crack. For-profit schools are nearly always cheaper than non-profit schools. What state school offers $100-$250 per credit hour tuition? Because that’s what many for-profit online schools charge.
Quit misleading people with your obvious bias towards traditional Regional Accredited colleges.
August 16th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Jeff, perhaps you could give a specific example of how much it would cost someone to attend a for-profit school vs. a not-for-profit school.