School accreditation

Something to consider if you are thinking about going back to school is accreditation or sending someone off to school.

The school’s accreditation is an important factor these days.
Your ability to receive federal financial aid to pay for your education can be affected by your school’s accreditation. In addition, many employers in the U.S. only recognize degrees earned from institutions accredited by an agency recognized by the Secretary of Education.

Accreditation standards can vary by state, by employer, by occupation, and sometimes within disciplines. Also, just because a school claims to be accredited, the accreditation and the accrediting organization could be bogus, and the school is simply a diploma mill.

The Department of Education offers a searchable database of postsecondary educational institutions and programs accredited by an accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to help you find out your potential school’s accreditation status. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation also offers a similar tool and other helpful information on accreditation.