The United States government does not regulate the quality of educational programs offered at colleges and universities. Instead, the accreditation of a university, college or school tells you that the school has met a minimum standard of quality in its academic programs. Accrediting organizations are authorized by the US Department of Education to set these standards and then evaluate whether a school's program meets them. If so, then the university, college or school is said to be "accredited" by that body.
There are several different accrediting organizations in the US, and universities and colleges may be accredited by just one or by a few. Also, individual programs (such as the engineering program) at universities and colleges can be accredited by a professional organization that is specialized in that discipline.
It is very important to choose a school, college or university that has been accredited by a proper accrediting organization. By attending an accredited college, university or school, you can be sure your degree will be recognized by other colleges and universities (should you want to pursue an advanced degree), and by employers. You can find out directly from the school whether it is accredited and also by which organizations. This information may also be available in some college guides. Beware of bogus accrediting bodies. Some schools set up their own accrediting agencies (which often look legitimate) and then accredit their own school so that they can claim their campus is accredited. Below is a list of reputable accrediting organizations. Almost all reputable universities, colleges, and schools in the U.S. are accredited by one of the accrediting organizations listed below.
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Regional Accrediting Organizations
Listed below are regional accrediting organizations for U.S. colleges, universities, and higher education schools. These regional accrediting organizations ensure that each accredited university, college or school maintains certain academic standards.
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Jean Avnet Morse, Executive Director
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 267-284-5000
Fax: 215-662-5501
Web:
www.msche.org
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE)
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
Barbara Brittingham, Interim Director
209 Burlington Road
Bedford, MA 01730
Phone: 781-271-0022
Fax: 781-271-0950
Web:
www.neasc.org
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CTCI)
Commission on Technical and Career Institutions
Paul Bento, Director
William C. Warren, Associate Director of Degree Institutions
209 Burlington Road
Bedford, MA 01730
Phone: 781-271-0022
Fax: 781-271-0950
Web:
www.neasc.org
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC)
The Higher Learning Commission
Steven D. Crow, Executive Director
30 North LaSalle, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-263-0456
Fax: 312-263-7462
Web:
www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Sandra E. Elman, Executive Director
8060 165th Avenue, NE, Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
Phone: 425-558-4224
Fax: 425-376-0596
Web:
www.nwccu.org
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Commission on Colleges
Belle S. Wheelan, President
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA 30033
Phone: 404-679-4500
Fax: 404-679-4528
Web:
www.sacscoc.org
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC-ACCJC)
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Barbara A. Beno, Executive Director
10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204
Novato, CA 94949
Phone: 415-506-0234
Fax: 415-506-0238
Web:
www.accjc.org
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC-ACSCU)
Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
Ralph A. Wolff, Executive Director
985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: 510-748-9001
Fax: 510-748-9797
Web:
www.wascweb.org
National Accrediting Organizations
Listed below are national accrediting organizations for U.S. colleges, universities, and higher education schools. These national accrediting organizations ensure that each accredited university, college or school maintains certain academic standards.
Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
Commission on Accreditation
Formerly the
Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC)
Larry McKinney, Executive Director
5575 South Semoran Boulevard, Suite 26
Orlando, FL 32822
Phone: 407-207-0808
Fax: 407-207-0840
Web:
www.abhe.org
Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
Michael P. Lambert, Executive Director
1601 Eighteenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20009-2529
Phone: 202-234-5100
Fax: 202-332-1386
Web:
www.detc.org
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
Steven A. Eggland, Executive Director
750 First Street NE, Suite 980
Washington, DC 20002-4241
Phone: 202-336-6780
Fax: 202-842-2593
Web:
www.acics.org
Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS)
Bernard Fryshman, Executive Vice President
11 Broadway, Suite 405
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 212-363-1991
Fax: 212-533-5335
E-mail: N/A
Web: N/A
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)
Commission on Accrediting
Daniel O. Aleshire, Executive Director
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1110
Phone: 412-788-6505
Fax: 412-788-6510
Web:
www.ats.edu
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
Accreditation Commission
Russell Guy Fitzgerald, Executive Director
PO Box 328
Forest, VA 24551
Phone: 434-525-9539
Fax: 434-525-9538
Web:
www.tracs.org
Specialized and Professional Accrediting Organizations
Listed below are national specialized and professional accrediting organizations for U.S. colleges, universities, and higher education schools. These professional accrediting organizations ensure that each accredited university, college or school maintains certain academic standards.
AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business (AACSB)
Jerry Trapnell, Executive Vice President and
Chief Accreditation Officer
777 South Harbour Island Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: 813-769-6500
Fax: 813-769-6559
Web:
www.aacsb.edu
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
George D. Peterson, Executive Director
111 Market Place, Suite 1050
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410-347-7700
Fax: 410-625-2238
E-mail:
Web:
www.abet.org
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
Peter Vlasses, Executive Director
20 North Clark, Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-664-3575
Fax: 312-664-4652
Web:
http://www.acpe-accredit.org
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician
Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)
John E. McCarty, Executive Director
12000 Findley Road, Suite 240
Duluth, GA 30097
Phone: 770-476-1224
Fax: 770-476-1249
Web:
www.arc-pa.org
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)
Susanne Shaw, Executive Director
School of Journalism
Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Boulevard
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045-7575
Phone: 785-864-3986
Fax: 785-864-5225
Web:
www.ku.edu/~acejmc
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT/COAMFTE)
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
Jeff S. Harmon
Program Review Administrator
112 South Alfred Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-838-9808 (main)
Phone: 703-253-0459 (direct)
Fax: 703-253-0508
Web:
www.aamft.org
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
Council for Accreditation (CFA)
Karen Tucker, Executive Director
1555 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-706-4600
Fax: 703-706-4663
Web:
www.aafcs.org
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (CoA-NA)
Francis Gerbasi, Director of Accreditation and
Education
222 South Prospect Avenue, Suite 304
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Phone: 847-692-7050 ext. 3154
Fax: 847-692-7137
Web:
www.aana.com
American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)
Committee on Accreditation
George P. Connick, Executive Director
38 Florida Avenue
Portland, ME 04103
Phone: 207-878-6530
Fax: 207-797-7686
Web:
www.abfse.org
Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, May 2001
American Council for Construction Education (ACCE)
Board of Trustees
Michael Holland, Executive Vice President
1717 North Loop 1604 East, Suite 320
San Antonio, TX 78232-1570
Phone: 210-495-6161
Fax: 210-495-6168
Web:
www.acce-hq.org
American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF)
Accrediting Commission
Dawn Jantsch, Managing Director
Candice Childers, Accreditation Program Coordinator
180 Center Place Way Street
St. Augustine, FL 32095
Phone: 904-824-4468
Fax: 904-825-4758
Web:
www.acfchefs.org
American Dietetic Association
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE-ADA)
Beverly E. Mitchell, Director
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: 312-899-4872
Fax: 312-899-4817
Web:
www.eatright.org/cade
American Institute of Certified Planners/Association of Collegiate
Schools of Planning
Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)
Shonagh Aylsworth, Executive Director
122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-334-1271
Fax: 312-334-1273
Web:
www.netins.net/showcase/pab_fi66
American Library Association (ALA)
Committee on Accreditation (CoA)
Karen O'Brien, Director, Office for Accreditation
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 800-545-2433 ext. 2435
Fax: 312-280-2433
Web:
www.ala.org/ala/accreditation/accreditation.htm
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
Sue Graves, Senior Program Administrator in
Accreditation
4720 Montgomery Lane
PO Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824
Phone: 301-652-6611 ext. 2912
Fax: 301-652-7711
Web:
www.aota.org
American Optometric Association (AOA)
Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE)
Joyce Urbeck, Administrative Director
243 North Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63141
Phone: 314-991-4100 ext. 246
Fax: 314-991-4101
Web:
http://www.theacoe.org
American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME)
Alan R. Tinkleman, Director
9312 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-581-9200
Fax: 301-571-4903
Web:
www.apma.org
American Psychological Association (APA)
Committee on Accreditation (CoA)
Susan Zlotlow, Director
Office of Program Consultation
and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979
Fax: 202-336-5978
Web:
www.apa.org
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB)
Ronald C. Leighton, Accreditation Manager
636 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-898-2444
Fax: 202-898-1185
Web:
www.asla.org
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
Patrima Tice, Director of Credentialing
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 301-897-5700 ext. 4140
Fax: 301-571-0481
Web:
www.asha.org/about/academia/accreditation
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Division of Education and Research
Donald G. Simmons, Director of Education and
Research
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: 847-925-8070 ext. 6674
Fax: 847-925-1329
Web:
www.avma.org
Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Douglas Viehland, Executive Director
7007 College Boulevard, Suite 420
Overland Park, KS 66211
Phone: 913-339-9356
Fax: 913-339-6226
Web:
www.acbsp.org
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Mary Jane Harris, Director
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-706-3245
Fax: 703-838-8910
Web:
www.apta.org
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Kathleen Megivern, Executive Director
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-553-9355
Fax: 312-553-9616
Web:
www.caahep.org
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
Formerly Accrediting
Commission on Education for Health Services Administration (ACEHSA)
John S. Lloyd, President/CEO
Pamela Jenness, Director, Accreditation Operations
2000 14th Street North, Suite 780
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 703-894-0960
Fax: 703-894-0941
Web:
www.cahmeweb.org
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Jennifer Butlin, Director
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-887-6791
Fax: 202-887-8476
Web:
www.aacn.nche.edu/accreditation
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
(CACREP)
Carol L. Bobby, Executive Director
5999 Stevenson Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22304
Phone: 703-823-9800 ext. 301
Fax: 703-823-1581
Web:
www.counseling.org/cacrep
Council on Aviation Accreditation (CAA)
Gary W. Kiteley, Executive Director
3410 Skyway Drive
Auburn, AL 36830
Phone: 334-844-2431
Fax: 334-844-2432
Web:
www.caaaccreditation.org
Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)
Commission on Accreditation
Martha S. O'Conner, Executive Vice President
8049 North 85th Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Phone: 480-443-8877
Fax: 480-483-7333
Web:
www.cce-usa.org
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)
Commission on Standards and Accreditation
Donald C. Linkowski, Executive Director
1835 Rohlwing Road, Suite E
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone: 847-394-1785
Fax: 847-394-2108
Web:
www.core-rehab.org
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Office of Social Work Accreditation and Educational Excellence
Dean Pierce, Director
1725 Duke Street, Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-683-8080 ext. 205
Fax: 703-739-9048
Web:
www.cswe.org
Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER)
Kayem Dunn, Executive Director
146 Monroe Center, NW, Suite 1318
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616-458-0400
Fax: 616-458-0460
Web:
www.fider.org
Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
Joanne S. Greathouse, Chief Executive Officer
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60606-2901
Phone: 312-704-5300
Fax: 312-704-5304
Web:
www.jrcert.org
Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine
Technology (JRCNMT)
Elaine Cuklanz, Executive Director
PMB #418
1 Second Avenue East, Suite C
Polson, MT 59860
Phone: 406-883-0003
Fax: 406-883-0022
Web:
www.jrcnmt.org
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
Olive M. Kimball, Chief Executive Officer
8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670
Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: 773-714-8880
Fax: 773-714-8886
Web:
www.naacls.org
National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT)
Rick Coscarelli, Executive Director
3300 Washtenaw Avenue, Suite 220
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-677-0720
Fax: 734-677-0046
Web:
www.nait.org
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Samuel Hope, Executive Director
Karen P. Moynahan, Associate Director
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: 703-437-0700
Fax: 703-437-6312
Web:
www.arts-accredit.org
National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD)
Samuel Hope, Executive Director
Karen P. Moynahan, Associate Director
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: 703-437-0700
Fax: 703-437-6312
Web:
www.arts-accredit.org
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
Samuel Hope, Executive Director
Karen P. Moynahan, Associate Director
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: 703-437-0700
Fax: 703-437-6312
Web:
www.arts-accredit.org
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)
Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA)
Jinla Byrne, Director of Accreditation
1120 G Street, NW, Suite 730
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-628-8965
Fax: 202-626-4978
Web:
www.naspaa.org
National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST)
Samuel Hope, Executive Director
Karen P. Moynahan, Associate Director
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: 703-437-0700
Fax: 703-437-6312
Web:
www.arts-accredit.org
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Arthur E. Wise, President
2010 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-466-7496
Fax: 202-296-6620
Web:
www.ncate.org
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC)
Barbara R. Grumet, Executive Director
61 Broadway
New York, NY 10006
Phone: 800-669-1656 ext. 451
Phone: 212-363-5555 ext. 153
Fax: 212-812-0390
Web:
www.nlnac.org
National Recreation & Park Association/
American Association for Leisure and Recreation (NRPA/AALR)
Council on Accreditation
Danielle Timmerman, Manager, Academic Affairs
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Ashburn, VA 20148
Phone: 703-858-0784 ext. 2150
Fax: 703-858-0794
Web:
www.councilonaccreditation.org
Society of American Foresters (SAF)
Terry Clark, Associate Director of Science &
Education
5400 Grosvenor Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814-2198
Phone: 301-897-8921 ext. 123
Fax: 301-897-3690
Web:
www.safnet.org
Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)
Frank B. Murray, President
One Dupont Circle, Suite 320
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-466-7236
Fax: 202-831-3013
Web:
www.teac.org