{"id":39503,"date":"2017-05-23T04:27:51","date_gmt":"2017-05-22T20:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/?post_type=advice&p=39503"},"modified":"2026-01-26T11:51:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:51:30","slug":"accreditation-why-is-it-so-important","status":"publish","type":"advice","link":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/accreditation-why-is-it-so-important\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is College Accreditation? How to Check If a School Is Legit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Quick answer:<\/strong> Accreditation is the quality review process that determines whether a college is recognized as legitimate. It affects whether employers and other schools will respect your degree\u2014and whether your credits can transfer. If you want a vetted starting point,<\/strong> use Abound\u2019s school search<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to check a school\u2019s accreditation (in 3 minutes):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. When in doubt, call the registrar\/admissions office and ask: \u201cWho is your institutional accreditor, and will my credits transfer to [School Name]?\u201d
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Find the school\u2019s accreditor name on its website (usually \u201cAccreditation\u201d or \u201cAbout\u201d).
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Verify the accreditor on the U.S. Department of Education database.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Cross-check it on the CHEA directory.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. If you\u2019re pursuing a licensed field (nursing, teaching, counseling), confirm programmatic<\/strong> accreditation too.
    <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What is Accreditation?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Accreditation is a big fancy word that simply means a quality check. An accredited school has gone through a rigorous check by an authority on education to make sure the school meets their standards and is qualified to teach students the programs they are offering. A degree from an accredited school is valuable. One from an unaccredited school or program is worthless. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to check the accreditation status of your school and make sure it fits your needs and expectations before spending your time and money.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Accreditation by these governing bodies gives students, schools, and all interested in the diploma earned from that school, the peace of mind that the program is legitimate and that they\u2019re not being scammed or taken advantage of. It also ensures that the credits you receive from that school are transferable to another school. If your program doesn\u2019t qualify, or is not recognized by the school you transfer to, your credits might not count towards your degree!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before giving money to an institution, your first step should always be to make sure that it is properly accredited.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Who Decides Which Schools are Accredited?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In the United States, colleges and universities are accredited by independent accrediting organizations that are formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE)<\/a>. These accreditors evaluate institutions on academic quality, governance, financial stability, and student outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The USDE does not accredit colleges directly. Instead, it reviews and recognizes accrediting agencies that meet federal standards. Colleges must be reviewed by a recognized accreditor on a regular cycle\u2014typically every five to ten years\u2014to maintain their accredited status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In addition to the USDE, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)<\/a> also recognizes legitimate accrediting bodies and maintains a public directory. Together, these organizations provide the most reliable way to verify whether a school\u2019s accreditation is legitimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If a college or university is not listed in the USDE or CHEA databases, students should treat that as a serious warning sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"The<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Regional versus National Accreditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Accreditation is often discussed in terms of \u201cregional\u201d and \u201cnational,\u201d but for today\u2019s students, the most important distinction is whether a school is institutionally accredited by a legitimate accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Historically, regional accreditation was considered the gold standard, while national accreditation was more common among career, vocational, and distance-focused institutions. Over time, many accrediting agencies have merged or restructured, and transfer policies are now determined primarily by the receiving institution\u2014not geography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What matters most for students is this: credits from an institutionally accredited college are far more likely to be accepted by other colleges and respected by employers than credits from an unaccredited institution. However, credit transfer is never guaranteed and is always evaluated by the school you plan to attend next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before enrolling, students should confirm both the school\u2019s accreditation status and how that accreditation aligns with their academic and career goals\u2014especially if they expect to transfer credits <\/a>or pursue graduate study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Verify a College\u2019s Accreditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The safest way to confirm a school\u2019s accreditation is to verify it directly through official government-recognized databases. Students should never rely solely on a school\u2019s marketing materials or website claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To verify accreditation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n