Why College Accreditation Still Matters

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College accreditation is the review process universities and colleges undergo to establish whether a specific program or an institution exceeds or meets preset educational standards. Attending an accredited institution allows an individual to advance in the career of choice.

Types of Accredited Colleges and Programs

Teacher programs may apply to national or regional Grand Canyon University accreditation, among others. Credits obtained from accredited institutions are often transferred to graduate programs. In contrast, those from nationally accredited colleges may fail to be recognized in all graduate programs regionally. However, the U.S. Department of Education acknowledges national and regional accreditation agencies to facilitate financial aid.

National Accrediting Bodies

Agencies lik Grand Canyon University accreditation professionals are nongovernmental, private agencies established to review educational programs and institutions. Accreditation agencies provide the public with a list of institutions and programs which meet high-quality standards. Accredited educational institutions will reveal the agency which accredited them if a person requests the information.

What Are the Steps for Accreditation?

The process of accreditation for a university or college involves the listed steps:

Peer Scrutiny

After submitting the paperwork to the relevant accreditation agency, administrative and faculty peers scrutinize the reports. The general workings of the institution and prepared materials appropriate to seeking accreditation are evaluated accordingly.

Jury Visit

The accreditation agency sends a team of professionals to inspect and monitor the accreditation-seeking institution. The jury may comprise public volunteers and peers who are committed to assessing the education standards of a university or college.

Decision Process

The jury team is responsible for collecting essential information when they visit the institution. The report, once reviewed, becomes instrumental in determining the accreditation status of the institution under scrutiny.

Accreditation Renewal Review

The educational institution awarded the accreditation status has to adhere to the accreditation agency’s set standards. The accredited college or university commits to undergoing a periodical renewal review for the accreditation.

Benefits of Attending Accredited Colleges

Financial Aid

Attending an accredited institution opens the gateways for a person to participate in state entitlement and federally funded programs. Only accredited programs that the Department of Education recognizes offer federal and state financial aid.

Employment

Graduating from an accredited program makes a person more competitive in the job market. Employers prefer graduates from accredited institutions and programs under national standards.

Transfer of Credits

People who graduate from an accredited educational institution qualify to attend other accredited colleges and universities to pursue advanced studies such as master’s degrees and doctoral programs. Credits earned from an accredited institution are transferred to another accredited institution.

The quickest way to establish whether a given institution or program is accredited is to check through the school’s website. Students may also verify this by checking the U.S. Department of Education database.