What is Accreditation?

The U.S. Department of Education defines accreditation as "the recognition that an institution maintains standards requisite for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice." In other words, the goal of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation impacts your opportunities for federal student aid, affects future employment and determines whether your work is accepted by other academic institutions.