Guide Content

Regional Accreditation
Regional accreditation means that an institution has been recognized as meeting educational standards and requirements established by both the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). There are eight regional accreditation agencies that accredit higher education institutions in the U.S. The U.S. DOE publishes an extensive online database of accredited institutions.
Why Regional Accreditation is Important
Institutions that are regionally accredited, which are by far the most prevalent, are eligible to offer federally funded financial aid to their students. Credits earned from regionally accredited higher education institutions can usually be transferred between each other. Regionally accredited institutions may not accept previous credits earned from non-regionally accredited institutions, but every institution has its own unique policies related to transferring credit.  All institutions listed on College Choices for Adults are regionally accredited.