U.S. Accreditation Explained

In the United States, accreditation is a voluntary process that involves an intensive self-evaluation of the institution whereby the institution must prove that it meets established standards. Three types of recognized accreditation exist in the United States: national, regional, and professional. Accrediting agencies reviewed and approved by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are considered "recognized agencies."

Students who attend schools accredited by recognized agencies in the United States enjoy the greatest acceptance rate. Many employers and institutions in the United States are concerned about diploma mills (institutions granting degrees for little or no work) and therefore use recognized accreditation as the standard assurance of a quality education. In addition, accreditation benefits the student by proving the school’s business, academic, and ethical standards are regulated.

The DETC Accrediting Commission is presently listed (and has been since 1959) by the U.S. Department of Education as a “nationally recognized accrediting agency.” Like the six regional accrediting agencies, DETC’s Accrediting Commission is reviewed periodically by the U.S. Department of Education to make certain that it meets the criteria for federal recognition as published in Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. DETC’s Accrediting Commission is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is a nongovernmental agency that reviews and recognizes accrediting agencies that accredited degree granting. For more information on these agencies, please visit their web sites at:

• Council for Higher Education Accreditation: http://www.chea.org/

• Council for Higher Education Accreditation, to search for a school or institution: http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp

• United States Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov/

• United states Department of Education, to search for a school or institution: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/

The United States Department of Education on Distance Education Accreditation:

The Secretary recognizes only one agency dedicated to accrediting distance education institutions, the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). You can find the list of programs accredited by DETC, and search for programs by subjects taught or degrees given at their website.

• Distance Education and Training Council (DETC): http://www.detc.org/