What is an Accredited Organization? 

In the United States, accreditation organizations are private and not affiliated with the government, though the government uses accreditation organizations to maintain the standards of the nation's colleges and universities. Accreditation organizations exist to review colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education for standards of quality and improvement efforts. In most countries other than the Unites States, the government is responsible for accreditation.

What does Accreditation have to do with my education?

Accreditation is the tool we use to monitor, assess, and evaluate the standards and quality of the education a student receives at a college, university, or other institution of higher learning. Because of the process of accreditation, students, returning students, and families can trust that the education they are paying for is valuable and worthwhile.
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While a student who attends an accredited college or university is well on his or her way to receiving a quality education, students should remember that a college or university's accreditation does not automatically guarantee a student's success. It is up to the individual student to make the most out of the education he or she is receiving! But if many students attending a college or university are not successful and do not demonstrate a high level of educational performance, an accreditation organization may need to step in to examine the effectiveness of the institution and evaluate what aspects can be improved.

What if I am interested in a College or University that is not accredited?

If a college, university, or program you are interested in applying to does not have recognized accreditation, you should do as much research as you can about the institution. A program or institution's lack of accreditation might mean that it is a new program or institution and has not yet met the minimum requirements to be considered for accreditation. You should make sure before enrolling in an unaccredited program or institution that the program or institution can be measured for effectiveness or quality in some way other than through the standard accreditation process.