What is accreditation?
What is the purpose of Accreditation?
Why is Accreditation Important?
Why do universities get accredited?
Why should I join an accredited university?
What accrediting agencies are recognized?
How can I obtain a list of universities that are accredited by these recognized agencies?

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is a process through which a university maintains and improves its standards and practices. Accrediting organizations develop a criteria or standards by which a university can be measured. It is the responsibility of accrediting organizations to ensure quality, accountability, and improvement in universities that are accredited by them.

Recognition of accrediting organizations by HEAC affirms that standards and processes of accrediting organizations are consistent with quality, improvement, and accountability.

What is the purpose of Accreditation?

Accreditation serves the following purposes:

Assuring Quality. Accreditation is the primary means by which colleges, universities and programs assure academic quality to students and the public.

Access to Federal Funds. Accreditation of institutions and programs is required in order for students to gain access to federal funds such as student grants, loans and other federal support.

Easing Transfer. Accreditation of institutions and programs is important to students for smooth transfer of courses and programs among colleges and universities.

Engendering Employer Confidence. Accredited status of an institution or program is important to
employers when evaluating credentials of job applicants and providing financial support to current
employees seeking additional education.

Why is Accreditation Important?

Accreditation is important to various constituent groups because it represents a commitment to quality education.

Business and industry leaders are interested in quality universities and consider accreditation status an important factor when relocating.

Superintendents realize dollar savings through the peer review process where educators from throughout the state volunteer their services as members of review teams to assess standards and university improvement.

Citizens are assured of accountability and of value for their tax dollars because their universities meet established standards and undergo regular re-evaluation by teams of professionals whose focus is on university improvement.

Why do universities get accredited?

Accreditation provides an opportunity to improve the educational quality of an institution. It provides a means of evaluating and comparing your courses/programs, facilities, and procedures with those of others. It involves a process whereby an accrediting body grants public recognition to an institution as having met certain standards. However, the greatest value of accreditation is to be found in undergoing the process itself, a process of self-evaluation in which an institution voluntarily monitors and controls its own behavior to ensure that its "programs and policies embody standards of good practice."

Accreditation is purely voluntary. The applicant institution voluntarily elects to apply for accreditation and it voluntarily agrees to comply with all standards and policies of the Commission.

Accreditation is a non-governmental peer review process in which the integrity and good faith of an institution and its officers are essential.

The burden of proof in demonstrating compliance with standards rests with the institution, not with the Accrediting Commission. The institution must prove to the Accrediting Commission that it meets or exceeds the standards.

The Accrediting Commission considers information about an applicant institution from any source in reaching its conclusion.

Accreditation is by its nature a formal, but nonetheless, collegial process. It works best when there is a common agreement that the chief purpose for seeking accreditation is the identification of soundness, honesty and quality in the practice of distance education.

Why should I join an accredited university?

There are several reasons why students should join accredited institutes. Accredited institutes get their curriculum, mode of study, and the quality of the education they impart monitored by the agency that accredits them. So students joining accredited institutes can be sure of the quality of education that they would receive at their selected institute.

Moreover, many businesses and companies accept degrees granted by accredited institutes only. Being a part of and earning an accredited degree can save students from the embarrassment they would have to face if they hold an invalid degree.

What accrediting agencies are recognized?

HEAC recognizes the following accrediting agencies:



1. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA): (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania)

2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE): (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)

3. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC): (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming)

4. Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NWA): (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington state)

5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS): (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia)

6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC-ACSCU): (California and Hawaii)

1. Board of Online Universities Accreditation (BOUA)

2. Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA)

3. International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU)

4. World Online Education Accrediting Commission (WOEAC)

How can I obtain a list of universities that are accredited by these recognized agencies?

Each of the agencies listed above have maintained a list of universities that are accredited through them. Please select an accrediting agency to go directly to their web site and view their list.