Institutional Accreditation
Accreditation is arguably one of the most important factors to consider when you're choosing a college or university. It's an invaluable form of quality assurance, and accredited institutions are proven to offer quality programs, provide high-caliber resources and services, and operate in an ethically and financially responsible manner. All of the schools on our website are accredited online colleges, so you can trust in their value and authenticity.
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What Is It? Approved Agencies Why It's Important The Process
Colleges With Institutional Accreditation
| School Name | Accrediting Agency | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University, Online | HLC, AACSB, ABA, ABET, ACEND, APA, ASHA, CACREP, CAHME, CCNE, CSWE, NAAB, NASAD, NASM, ABA | $32,193 |
| Arkansas State University | HLC, AACSB, AANA, ACEN, ACEN, ACEND, AOTA, APTA, ASHA, CEA, CSWE, JRCERT, NASAD, NASM, NAST, NCATE | $13,826 |
| Aspen University | DEAC, CCNE, IACBE | $6,264 |
| Auburn University | SACS COC, AACSB, AAMFT, ABET, ACEN, ACEND, ACPE, APA, ASHA, AVMA COE, CACREP, CCNE, CSWE, NASAD, NASM, NAST, NCATE | $33,944 |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | SACS COC, AACSB, CCNE, NCATE | $20,092 |
| Augusta University | SACS COC, AACSB, AANA, ACEN, AOTA, APTA, CACREP, CAHIIM, CCNE, CEPH, CODA, CSWE, JRCERT, LCME, NASAD, NASM, NCATE | $23,500 |
| Augustana University - SD | HLC, ACEN, CCNE, NASM, NCATE | $39,190 |
| Austin Peay State University | SACS COC, ABET, ACEN, CCNE, CSWE, JRCERT, NASAD, NASM, NCATE | $14,219 |
| Avila University | HLC, CCNE, CSWE, JRCERT, MSBN | $38,672 |
| Babson College | NECHE, AACSB | $56,032 |
| Baker College Online | HLC, ABET, ACEN, AOTA, APTA, CCNE, CODA, COMTA, JRCERT | $12,810 |
| Ball State University | HLC, AACSB, ABET, ACEN, ACEND, APA, ASHA, CACREP, CCNE, CEA, CSWE, JRCERT, NASAD, NASD, NASM, NAST, NCATE | $28,766 |
| Baptist University of Florida | SACS COC, NASM, NASM | $13,800 |
| Barry University | SACS COC, AACSB, AANA, ABA, AOTA, APMA, CAATS, CACREP, CCNE, CSWE, MACTE, ABA | $33,450 |
| Bay Path University | NECHE, AOTA, CCNE | $37,227 |
| Baylor University | SACS COC, AACSB, ABA, ABET, ACEND, APA, APTA, ASHA, CAATS, CAHME, CCNE, CEPH, CSWE, NASM, NAST, NCATE, AALE, ABA | $54,844 |
| Bellarmine University | SACS COC, APTA, CCNE, JRCERT, NCATE | $47,180 |
| Bellevue University | HLC, CCNE | $8,886 |
| Benedictine University | HLC, ACEN, ACEND, CCNE, CEPH | $34,290 |
| Bentley University | NECHE, AACSB | $58,150 |
What Is Institutional Accreditation?
In the U.S., the federal government — specifically, the U.S. Department of Education — seeks to ensure consistency in higher education across the country. The objective is to make sure that, for example, a college student who has earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from a college in California has acquired the same knowledge and skills as a student who has earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from a college in Texas or Vermont.
The USDE does not evaluate colleges itself. Instead, it authorizes have a narrower scope. Each agency tends to focus on smaller institutions that specialize in teaching fewer subjects. These agencies have always had the freedom to evaluate schools across the country, using consistent standards.
The other primary category is programmatic accreditation agencies. These accrediting bodies are limited in scope to reviewing individual programs or sometimes departments within an institution or university that has already received institutional accreditation. In general, their objective is to confirm that programs are educating students to meet relevant industry standards.
Institutional Accrediting Agencies
Institutional accreditation can be a complex issue, and you may want to learn more about the many accrediting organizations that have been sanctioned by the USDE or by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a nonprofit organization located in Washington, D.C., that advocates for quality higher education. A brief description of each institutional accreditation agency is provided below, and you can also consult the and most popular online colleges are accredited.
Why Is Accreditation Important to College Students?
If you're a prospective college student, you have likely spent some time comparing various programs and schools in your college search. Knowing the accreditation status of each institution you're interested in can help you select the best accredited online colleges for your chosen field of study. There are also several additional reasons why accreditation matters:
Transferring Credits
No institution is required to accept transfer credits from any other school, but accreditation can help. Most colleges will not consider accepting transfer credits if they were earned at a nonaccredited school. Students enrolling in courses and expecting to be able to transfer those credits farther down the road are advised to examine the accreditation of their current college as well as the guidelines of the schools to which they may wish to transfer.
Getting Financial Aid
Students interested in applying for and receiving federal financial aid, such as Perkins Loans and Pell Grants, should note that the U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to be accredited if they will be offering financial aid to students. This is also true for several state aid programs.
Finding a Job
In some cases, employers view graduates of accredited colleges as more prepared than those who've earned their degrees from unaccredited institutions. Accreditation offers employers some assurance that the school has maintained high academic standards and prepares its students with the appropriate level of skills and knowledge. Accreditation may also be required as part of certification or licensure procedures in some fields.
Continuing Education
Similar to how employers might view a graduate of an accredited school, graduate school admissions officers may also look more favorably on students who have completed accredited undergraduate degree programs. In many cases, graduation from an accredited institution is considered an eligibility prerequisite for application and enrollment in graduate-level programs.
What Should I Look For?
Prospective college students should look for authenticity in a school's accreditation status. To determine whether the school you're considering is accredited by an authorized accreditor, you can search either the