Accreditations

An accredited university is one that meets acceptable levels of quality established by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.* When an institution undergoes the accreditation process, a regional or national accrediting agency approved by the US. Department of Education evaluates the university and conducts peer reviews to assess whether it meets the accreditor’s academic program quality and continuous improvement criteria.

Earning a degree or certificate from an accredited university is a smart choice for many reasons. First, accreditation is a benchmark of quality. Prospective students can be assured the university meets and maintains accepted standards set forth by an independent accrediting body approved by the Department of Education. A university’s accreditation status also affects eligibility for federal financial aid and may be a factor in determining whether credits earned will be accepted for transfer by other institutions. Depending on your career path, you may need to graduate from a university that also offers programs with specialized accreditations in order to seek licensure and certification in your chosen field. Walden University, for example, is regionally accredited at the institutional level by The Higher Learning Commission and holds several specialized accreditations at the college and program levels.  For this reason, students should take steps, prior to enrollment, to determine whether their educational preparation will be accepted by any private or governmental entity responsible for licensing or certifying graduates to work in the field for which the educational program is intended.

In order to receive federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education (ED), you need to enroll in a college or university that is nationally or regionally accredited as an institution.