A Word About Accreditation

Many people think that accreditation is a simple proposition - a college or university is either accredited or it is not. It is very important to understand what accredtation means in regard to your educational goals and desires.

REGIONAL accreditation is generally the highest overall level a school or college can achieve. This allows for the general acceptance of units to transfer from college to college without any special consideration needed. The region of accreditation for a college is determined by which state the main campus is located. All regions are equal for accreditation. In regard to teacher credentials there is national accredtation, which is recognized nationally and internationally and is known as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

NATIONAL accreditation is held by vocational colleges. While this may seem more prominent, units earned from a college with this level accreditation typically must have an articulation agreement with regionally accredited schools for units to be accepted for transfer.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Most all colleges will tell you they are accredited. It is your responsibility as a scholar to determine if it is the level of accreditation you will need to achieve your academic goals.


Regional accreditation evaluates the educational program and support services at two and four year colleges and universities. There are six regional agencies that grant this type of accreditation. The agencies are:

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Accredits: American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific.

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Accredits: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC)

Accredits: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.


Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)

Accredits: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Panama, Virgin Islands, and several institutions in Europe that serve U.S. students.

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Accredits: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Accredits: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.


Schools accredited by ANY one of the above six agencies usually grant credit for previous college work completed at another accredited college or university.

However, vocational and training schools are accredited by the organizations listed below. If you have completed units at a school accredited by one of these agencies your units may be transferable, however, it will be up to the college or university to which you are applying.

Other Accrediting Agencies:

American Association of Bible Colleges

Association of Independent Colleges and Schools

Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada National

Association of Trade and Technical Schools National Home Study Council