University Accreditation: Does it Matter?
It may seem like there’s already too much to keep in mind when you are looking at colleges, but there’s one more very important thing you need to consider: university accreditation. It’s not something you may hear a lot about, but it’s definitely a factor you need to pay attention to.
To appreciate the importance of university accreditation, you need to understand what it means. When a university receives accreditation, that means that a team of educators has visited the school, studied its curriculum, and talked with students, staff and faculty. Through their contact and careful study of a university, the accrediting team decides whether or not that school meets levels of quality that are high enough to give them the right to grant degrees. If a university does not meet those levels, it can be put on “probation” for a set period of time while it improves its program or it can be denied university accreditation.
Most universities work very hard to continually improve their programs and maintain their accreditation. However, if a university is not accredited or loses their accreditation, that means that the credits you take there do not have to be accepted by any other university. So, if you want to transfer to another school, you may find yourself having to retake many, or maybe all, of your classes. A university’s lack of accreditation can also affect your eligibility for federal financial aid.
Within a university there may be specialized programs that go through an additional accreditation process conducted by experts in that field. That type of accreditation certifies that the program meets especially high standards of instruction.
So, while you’re checking out the websites of the schools you are considering, be sure to look for the university’s accreditation. It should be accredited by a regional or national agency that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education. There is a searchable database available on their website. However you find it, checking out university accreditation is well worth the time and effort because it could end up saving you a great deal of money and heartache.
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January 25th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
This post is very true in some cases, but not so true in others.
The minimum thing to look for is REGIONAL accreditation from colleges. If the college or university you are considering does not have or loses this accreditation, that is not a good sign. However, there are a number of other majors that have national/international accreditation(s) available to them that many universities can choose to pursue. The post wisely says:
“Within a university there may be specialized programs that go through an additional accreditation process conducted by experts in that field. That type of accreditation certifies that the program meets especially high standards of instruction.” Some majors do not have governing bodies, so not having an accreditation may not necessarily matter in that case.
When you ask a college about accreditation, ask wisely.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
It is true that one should consider accreditation of the school, as well as any additional program certifications, before starting. Unless the individual does not plan to go on for an advanced degree I think most people are concerned about how their credits will transfer and how their degree will carry throughout their educational career.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:03 am
I agree that university accreditation is extremely important. I also think that this is important to consider accreditation before starting your program of study. It also is important to future employers, who will be looking at your school and its merits. Thank you for posting this!