- Why Accreditation Matters When Choosing a Master’s Program
- What Accreditation Does — and Does Not — Tell You
- How U.S. Accreditation Works
- Check a College or University’s Accreditation
- When Programmatic Accreditation Matters
- Recognized Institutional Accrediting Organizations
- How Accreditation Relates to Federal Financial Aid
- Accreditation and Professional Licensure
- How Accreditation Can Affect Your Next Step
- Accreditation Red Flags to Watch For
- What If a School’s Accreditation Status Changes?
- How to Use Accreditation When Choosing a Master’s Program
- Continue Your Research
- Frequently Asked Questions About College Accreditation
- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
Accreditation is one of the first things to verify when evaluating an online master’s program. It provides independent review of an institution or academic program against established standards, but not all accreditation serves the same purpose .
Institutional accreditation applies to a college or university as a whole. Programmatic accreditation applies to particular programs, schools, or professional fields. Depending on your goals, one or both may matter.
Use OMC’s Accreditation Checker to investigate an institution’s accreditation status and accrediting organization. Then use the guidance on this page to determine whether you also need to verify accreditation for your specific program, particularly if you are preparing for professional licensure or certification.
If you are evaluating schools more broadly, OMC’s How to Choose an Online Master’s Program guide covers additional decision factors including cost, curriculum, program format, admissions requirements, and career fit.
Why Accreditation Matters When Choosing a Master’s Program
Accreditation provides an external review of a college, university, or academic program. For prospective master’s students, accreditation can affect several important decisions, including access to federal student aid, eligibility for certain professional licenses or certifications, and how another institution evaluates your prior education.
However, accreditation does not guarantee every outcome. An accredited degree is not automatically accepted by every employer, licensing board, university, or transfer institution. Requirements vary by profession, state, employer, institution, and purpose.
Before enrolling, consider accreditation in four different ways:
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation evaluates a college or university as a whole. It considers areas such as academic quality, governance, institutional resources, student support, and the institution’s ability to fulfill its educational mission.
For students considering federal financial aid, the relevant question is whether the institution meets the U.S. Department of Education’s requirements for participation in federal student-aid programs. Accreditation by a Department-recognized accrediting agency is an important part of that framework, but accreditation alone should not be treated as proof that a particular institution or program is currently eligible for every form of federal aid.
Programmatic Accreditation
Programmatic accreditation evaluates a particular academic program, department, school, or professional field rather than the entire university.
Its importance varies considerably by discipline. In some regulated professions, graduating from an appropriately accredited program can be part of the pathway to licensure or certification. In other fields, programmatic accreditation may function primarily as an additional quality signal or may have relatively little effect on a student’s career options.
If your career requires professional licensure, verify the requirements of the appropriate state licensing board and relevant accrediting or certification organization before enrolling.
Credit Transfer and Further Education
Accreditation can be one factor universities consider when evaluating transfer credit or applicants for subsequent graduate study. It is not a guarantee that credits or degrees will be accepted.
Receiving institutions establish their own transfer and admissions policies and may consider course content, grades, credit age, program requirements, institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation, or other factors.
If you expect to transfer graduate credits or pursue a doctorate later, check the policies of the institutions you may eventually attend rather than assuming accreditation alone will determine acceptance.
Employer Recognition
Some employers require applicants to hold degrees from appropriately accredited institutions, particularly for positions governed by formal education requirements. Other employers may focus more heavily on the institution, field of study, experience, skills, or professional credentials.
Accreditation therefore provides useful information about an institution or program, but it should not be interpreted as a guarantee of employment or universal employer acceptance.
What Accreditation Does — and Does Not — Tell You
| Accreditation Can Help You Verify | Accreditation Does Not Automatically Guarantee |
|---|---|
| Whether an institution or program has undergone review by a recognized accrediting organization | That every employer will accept the degree |
| The accrediting organization responsible for the institution or program | That credits will transfer to another university |
| Whether specialized accreditation exists for a particular professional program | That a graduate will qualify for licensure in every state |
| Whether accreditation is relevant to federal student-aid eligibility | That every accredited institution or program participates in federal student aid |
| Whether an institution or program meets the accreditor’s applicable standards | That one accredited program is academically or professionally better than another |
Bottom line: Accreditation is a verification checkpoint, not a complete measure of program quality or outcomes. Use it to establish whether an institution or program has appropriate recognized accreditation, then evaluate cost, curriculum, outcomes, format, licensing requirements, and other factors relevant to your decision.
How U.S. Accreditation Works
U.S. accreditation involves several organizations with different roles. Understanding those roles can help you interpret the results from the Accreditation Checker rather than treating every accreditation label as equivalent.
Who Accredits Colleges and Programs?
Accreditation is conducted by independent accrediting organizations rather than directly by the federal government. Different accreditors have different scopes: some evaluate entire institutions, while others evaluate programs within particular academic or professional fields.
The accrediting organization itself should also be verified. In the U.S., recognition of accrediting organizations is handled by the U.S. Department of Education, CHEA, or both, depending on the organization and purpose.
Learn more → OMC’s Guide to Understanding Accreditation
The U.S. Department of Education and CHEA
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) both recognize accrediting organizations, but they serve different purposes.
The Department of Education is a federal agency, and its recognition of accrediting agencies is connected to federal higher-education oversight and participation in federal student-aid programs.
CHEA is a nongovernmental higher-education organization that recognizes accrediting organizations based on its own standards for academic quality and accountability.
An accrediting organization may be recognized by ED, CHEA, or both , depending on the accreditor and its role. Recognition by both should not be treated as a universal requirement for legitimate accreditation.
What About “Regional” and “National” Accreditation?
You may still encounter the terms regional accreditation and national accreditation when researching universities. Historically, these terms described different groups of institutional accreditors, but they are less useful as a simple measure of whether one institution is “better” than another.
Instead, verify which organization accredits the institution, whether that accreditor has appropriate recognition, and whether the accreditation meets your specific academic or professional needs .
Transfer policies, doctoral admissions requirements, employer standards, and licensing requirements can still vary, so do not assume that an accreditation label alone determines whether another organization will accept your degree or credits.
For a deeper explanation of accreditation types, recognition, verification, and common accreditation mistakes → Read OMC’s Accreditation Guide
Check a College or University’s Accreditation
Use OMC’s Accreditation Checker to review institutional accreditation and available programmatic accreditation records for a U.S. college or university.
Search by college or university name below. The checker first identifies the institution and its institutional accreditation information. When the underlying accreditation data contains specialized or programmatic accreditation records associated with that institution, those records may also appear in your results.
Because institutions can have similar names, confirm that the result matches the school you are researching before relying on the accreditation information.
Important: Programmatic accreditation records shown by the checker do not necessarily represent every specialized accreditation held by an institution, and an accreditation record may apply to a particular program, department, school, or other defined scope. Review the exact accreditation record and relevant accreditor before determining whether it applies to the degree you are considering.
Accreditation Checker
OMC Accreditation Checker
Verify institutional accreditation and review available programmatic accreditation records from the U.S. Department of Education's DAPIP database.
Type at least 3 characters to see matching institutions. Confirm that the result matches the school you are researching before relying on the accreditation information.
How to Interpret Your Result
The checker may return one of several result states. Use the guidance below to understand what each result means and what, if anything, you should verify next. The result shown by the tool reflects the accreditation information OMC could verify from the sources identified in your result; it should not be interpreted beyond what those sources establish.
Institutional Accreditation Verified
The institution is listed as accredited by the accrediting organization shown in the result. Review the accreditor and recognition information, and confirm that the accreditation meets the requirements relevant to your education or career plans.
Institutional accreditation does not automatically establish that every individual program at the university has specialized or programmatic accreditation.
Accreditation Could Not Be Verified
OMC could not verify institutional accreditation for the institution based on the sources used by this checker.
This result does not automatically mean that the institution is unaccredited. Check the spelling and institution name, then verify the school directly through the U.S. Department of Education and the institution’s stated accrediting organization before making an enrollment decision.
Accreditation Status Requires Additional Review
The accreditation source may report an action or status that requires closer review. When this occurs, the checker should display the reported status and link to the authoritative source where available.
Terms such as warning, probation, show cause, withdrawal, or termination should be interpreted using the accreditor’s current documentation. Their meaning and potential consequences can vary by accrediting organization and circumstance.
Programmatic Accreditation Records Found
The checker may also display specialized or programmatic accreditation records associated with the institution. These records can identify an accrediting organization, accreditation area or program, current status, and applicable dates when those details are available in the source data.
Review the exact program or accreditation scope shown in the result. A programmatic accreditation record associated with a university does not automatically establish that the accreditation applies to every degree offered in that field.
If the accreditation is important for professional licensure, certification, employment, or further education, confirm that the record applies to your specific program through the relevant accrediting organization.
No Programmatic Accreditation Records Found
If the checker does not display programmatic accreditation records for an institution, do not interpret that result as confirmation that the institution has no programmatically accredited programs.
The accreditation data used by this checker may not contain every specialized accreditation or may describe programs differently from the university’s current program names. If programmatic accreditation matters for your field, check the relevant accrediting organization’s official directory.
Does This Checker Verify Programmatic Accreditation?
The checker can display programmatic accreditation records available in the accreditation data used by OMC , but programmatic coverage should not be considered comprehensive.
Institutional accreditation applies to a college or university as a whole. Programmatic accreditation may apply to a particular degree program, department, professional school, or other academic unit. When programmatic accreditation records are available for the institution you search, the checker may display:
Programmatic Accreditation Record
Program or Accreditation Scope: [Program/Scope]
Accreditor: [Accrediting Organization]
Status: [Status]
Accreditation Date: [Date, when available]
Review or End Date: [Date, when available]
Source: [Authoritative Source]
The program or accreditation scope shown in the source may not exactly match the name a university currently uses to market its degree . Do not assume that a record applies to your specific degree solely because it appears under the same university or academic field.
If programmatic accreditation is important for licensure, certification, or another professional requirement, confirm your specific program through the relevant programmatic accreditor and applicable licensing authority before enrolling.
Where the Accreditation Data Comes From
OMC’s Accreditation Checker uses accreditation information from the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP) . DAPIP contains accreditation information reported to the U.S. Department of Education by recognized accrediting agencies and state approval agencies, including records related to institutions and accredited programs.
The checker uses these records to identify institutional accreditation and, when available, programmatic or specialized accreditation associated with the institution.
OMC may also use the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to provide additional information about recognition of accrediting organizations.
Accreditation information can change, and source records may not always contain every specialized accreditation or reflect the terminology a university currently uses for a program. Review the source information and applicable dates shown in the checker, and verify consequential accreditation requirements directly with the relevant accrediting organization when necessary.
Learn more about verifying accreditation → OMC’s Guide to Understanding Accreditation
When Programmatic Accreditation Matters
The Accreditation Checker may identify programmatic accreditation records associated with the institution you search. These records can provide an important starting point, but the significance of programmatic accreditation depends on the field, profession, and specific program.
In some professions, graduating from an appropriately accredited program may be required or may simplify eligibility for licensure, certification, or other professional credentials. In other fields, specialized accreditation is primarily an additional quality signal rather than a universal requirement. In some professions, graduating from an appropriately accredited program may be required or may simplify eligibility for licensure, certification, or other professional credentials. In other fields, specialized accreditation is primarily an additional quality signal rather than a universal requirement.
If you plan to enter a licensed profession, verify requirements with the licensing board in the state where you intend to practice before enrolling.
Programmatic Accreditation by Field
| Field | Accrediting Organizations to Know | Why Students Should Check |
|---|---|---|
| Business & MBA | AACSB, ACBSP, IACBE | Specialized business accreditation can provide an additional indicator of business-school or program quality. Employer and doctoral-program preferences vary, and specialized business accreditation is not universally required. |
| Nursing | CCNE, ACEN | Programmatic accreditation can be important for nursing education, certification pathways, further study, and some employer requirements. Requirements vary by degree, credential, certifying organization, employer, and state. |
| Education | CAEP and other applicable specialized accreditors | Accreditation can be relevant to educator-preparation programs, but teacher and administrator licensure requirements are established by individual states and may involve state program approval in addition to or instead of a particular specialized accreditation. |
| Engineering & Computing | ABET | ABET accredits programs in engineering, engineering technology, computing, and related areas. Its importance depends on the discipline and career objective. Professional Engineer licensure requirements are determined by state licensing boards and should be checked separately. |
| Social Work | CSWE | CSWE accreditation is particularly important for students pursuing professional social-work pathways. Licensure requirements vary by state, so verify both the program’s CSWE status and the requirements of the state where you intend to practice. |
| Counseling | CACREP and other applicable accreditors | Programmatic accreditation can affect education, examination, or licensure pathways in some jurisdictions. Counseling licensure requirements vary significantly by state. |
| Public Health | CEPH | CEPH accredits schools and programs in public health. Specialized accreditation may matter for particular employers, professional pathways, or further education, but requirements depend on the student’s objective. |
How to Check Programmatic Accreditation
If programmatic accreditation matters for the degree you are considering:
- Search for the university using the Accreditation Checker above.
- Review any programmatic accreditation records shown and note the accreditor, program or accreditation scope, status, and applicable dates.
- Compare the accreditation scope with your exact degree program. Do not assume that a record covering one program, department, or school applies to every related degree at the university.
- Verify the specific program through the programmatic accreditor’s official directory when accreditation affects licensure, certification, employment, or further education.
- Check applicable state licensing requirements separately if you intend to enter a regulated profession.
A university can hold institutional accreditation while a particular program does not hold a specialized accreditation you may need or prefer. Likewise, the absence of a programmatic record from the checker does not by itself establish that no specialized accreditation exists.
Learn more → OMC’s Guide to Understanding Accreditation
Recognized Institutional Accrediting Organizations
When the Accreditation Checker returns an institutional accreditor, the important question is not simply whether the organization was historically called “regional” or “national.” Verify the accreditor’s current recognition and scope .
Institutional accreditors commonly encountered when researching U.S. colleges and universities include organizations such as:
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Other recognized institutional accreditors also operate in U.S. higher education. This list is illustrative, not a complete directory.
Use the Accreditation Checker for the institution you are considering rather than assuming a school must be accredited by one of the organizations listed above.
How Accreditation Relates to Federal Financial Aid
Accreditation is an important part of the federal student-aid system, but an institution being accredited does not by itself guarantee that every school or program is eligible for federal financial aid .
To participate in federal student-aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, an institution must meet federal eligibility requirements. These include being accredited or otherwise meeting applicable requirements through an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, along with additional federal participation requirements.
For students, the practical takeaway is simple: verify both accreditation and federal student-aid eligibility rather than treating them as the same thing.
How to Verify Federal Student Aid Eligibility
If you expect to use federal grants or student loans for graduate school:
- Check the institution’s accreditation using the Accreditation Checker above.
- Confirm the school participates in federal student-aid programs through official Federal Student Aid resources.
- Verify your specific program is eligible if you have any uncertainty, particularly for unusual program structures or enrollment arrangements.
- Review the financial-aid information provided by the university before enrolling or borrowing.
A school appearing as accredited in this tool should therefore not be interpreted as an OMC determination that you personally qualify for federal aid or that every program offered by the institution is Title IV eligible.
Explore funding options → Financial Aid for Online Master’s Programs
Why This Matters Before You Enroll
Federal financial-aid eligibility can materially affect how you finance a master’s degree. Students who cannot use federal aid may need to rely more heavily on personal funds, employer assistance, scholarships, payment plans, or private financing.
That makes accreditation and financial-aid eligibility useful early-stage verification checks , before comparing tuition or calculating how much you may need to borrow.
If you are comparing the full cost of different graduate programs, use OMC’s Graduate School Cost Calculator to estimate tuition and other education expenses.
Accreditation and Professional Licensure
If you are earning a master’s degree for a licensed profession , institutional accreditation may not be the only requirement you need to verify. Your state licensing board may require graduation from a particular type of program, completion of specific coursework or supervised experience, or—in some fields—graduation from a program with specified programmatic accreditation.
Requirements vary by profession and jurisdiction . A program that meets licensing requirements in one state may not necessarily satisfy the education requirements in another.
For that reason, do not use institutional accreditation alone to determine whether a program will qualify you for professional licensure.
What to Verify Before Enrolling
If professional licensure is part of your career plan:
- Identify the state where you expect to seek licensure.
- Review that state’s licensing board requirements for your profession.
- Confirm the exact degree and coursework requirements.
- Determine whether specific programmatic accreditation or state approval is required.
- Verify the accreditation status of your specific program through the relevant accreditor when applicable.
- Confirm the program meets your state’s educational requirements before enrolling.
If you may eventually practice in another state, review portability or additional licensing requirements as well.
Fields Where Program-Level Verification May Be Especially Important
Students should pay particular attention to program-level requirements when considering degrees connected to regulated professions, including areas such as:
- Nursing
- Social work
- Counseling
- Education and educator preparation
- Engineering
- Other licensed healthcare or professional fields
The role of accreditation is not identical across these fields . For example, one profession may require graduation from a specifically accredited program, while another state or profession may evaluate curriculum, state approval, examinations, supervised experience, or several factors together.
That’s why the relevant licensing authority—not OMC, the university’s marketing materials, or accreditation status alone—should be the final source for determining whether a program meets a particular licensing pathway.
Online Programs and Out-of-State Students
This check is particularly important when attending an online program located in a different state from where you plan to work.
A university may be permitted to offer an online program to students in your state without that automatically meaning the program satisfies your state’s professional licensure requirements.
Before enrolling in a licensure-track online program, review the university’s professional-licensure disclosures and confirm the requirements directly with the appropriate state licensing board.
Important: OMC’s Accreditation Checker can identify institutional and available programmatic accreditation records, but it does not determine whether a specific degree satisfies professional licensure requirements in a particular state. Confirm those requirements with the appropriate licensing authority.
How Accreditation Can Affect Your Next Step
Accreditation can matter beyond enrollment in your current master’s program. It may be considered when another university evaluates your credits or degree, when you apply for further education, or when an employer verifies your academic credentials.
However, accreditation alone does not guarantee that another institution or employer will accept a particular degree or set of credits.
Transferring Graduate Credits
If you plan to transfer graduate credits, the receiving institution makes the final decision about which credits it will accept.
Accreditation may be one factor in that decision, but universities can also consider the course content, grade earned, number and age of the credits, degree level, residency requirements, and whether the coursework fits the receiving program.
Before enrolling with plans to transfer later, check the transfer-credit policy of the university where you expect to complete your degree.
Applying to Doctoral or Other Graduate Programs
Universities establish their own admissions requirements for doctoral and other graduate programs. Some may require or prefer degrees from institutions with particular types of recognized accreditation, while others evaluate applicants using broader institutional and academic criteria.
If a doctorate or another advanced degree is part of your long-term plan, review the admissions requirements of programs you may eventually consider rather than assuming your master’s degree will automatically satisfy them.
Employer Recognition of Your Degree
Employer requirements vary considerably. Some positions require a degree from an appropriately accredited institution, while others place greater emphasis on the field of study, professional credentials, experience, skills, or the specific university.
Government, regulated, or credential-dependent positions may have more specific education requirements than other jobs.
If you are earning a master’s degree to qualify for a particular employer, promotion, or occupation, check the applicable education requirements before enrolling.
Accreditation Red Flags to Watch For
Accreditation claims should be independently verifiable. A college may describe itself as “accredited,” “recognized,” or “approved,” but those terms do not necessarily tell you who accredited the institution, what was accredited, or whether the accrediting organization has appropriate recognition .
Before enrolling, investigate further if you encounter any of these warning signs:
- The institution names no accrediting organization. A general statement that a school is “fully accredited” is not enough to verify its status.
- The accreditor cannot be verified through an authoritative source. Confirm the accrediting organization rather than relying only on the university’s website.
- Institutional and programmatic accreditation are presented as if they are the same. Accreditation of the university does not automatically mean every individual program holds specialized accreditation.
- The school makes broad promises about licensure or certification. If a degree leads toward a regulated profession, verify requirements independently with the appropriate licensing or certification authority.
- The accreditation information appears outdated or inconsistent. Differences between a university’s claims and current accreditor information deserve additional investigation.
- The institution pressures you to enroll before you can verify its credentials. Accreditation and program information should be available for prospective students to review before making an enrollment decision.
A warning sign does not necessarily establish that an institution or program lacks appropriate accreditation. It means you should verify the information before enrolling or paying tuition .
Learn how to investigate accreditation claims → OMC’s Guide to Understanding Accreditation
What If a School’s Accreditation Status Changes?
Accreditation is not necessarily permanent. Accrediting organizations periodically review institutions and programs and may take actions when their standards or requirements are not met.
Depending on the accreditor and circumstances, an institution or program may receive a warning, be placed on probation, be required to show why accreditation should continue, voluntarily withdraw, or ultimately lose accreditation.
These terms do not necessarily mean the same thing across every accrediting organization, so review the accreditor’s official explanation of the action rather than interpreting the status label by itself.
Warning, probation, or another adverse accreditation action does not necessarily mean accreditation has already been withdrawn.
If your institution or program receives such an action:
- Review the accreditor’s official notice.
- Determine whether the institution or program remains accredited.
- Understand what issues led to the action and the timeline for review.
- Ask the institution how current students may be affected.
- If licensure or further education is part of your plan, check with the relevant licensing board or receiving institution about any potential implications.
The consequences of losing accreditation depend on factors including when the change occurs, the type of accreditation involved, the student’s enrollment status, and the requirements of other institutions, licensing authorities, employers, or federal programs .
Loss of accreditation should not automatically be interpreted as making every degree previously awarded by the institution invalid or unrecognized .
Current students should review the accreditor’s official action and information provided by the institution. Depending on the circumstances, students may also need to investigate transfer opportunities, teach-out arrangements, financial-aid implications, or professional licensing requirements.
School closure is separate from accreditation status, although the two issues can sometimes occur together.
If an institution closes while you are enrolled, available options depend on the circumstances and may include a teach-out arrangement, transfer to another institution, or—in qualifying situations—federal student-loan discharge options .
Do not assume that a change in accreditation means the institution is closing, or that an institution’s closure automatically determines what happens to your credits, degree, or loans. Review guidance specific to the institution and your situation.
How to Use Accreditation When Choosing a Master’s Program
Accreditation should function as a verification step , not as the only reason to choose one master’s program over another.
Once you have confirmed the institution’s accreditation and any programmatic accreditation relevant to your goals, evaluate the other factors that can affect whether the program is a good fit.
Before enrolling:
- Verify institutional accreditation using the checker above and review the authoritative source.
- Review available programmatic accreditation records shown by the checker when relevant to your field, then verify that the accreditation applies to your specific program when it affects licensure, certification, or another professional requirement.
- Confirm state licensing requirements if you are entering a regulated profession.
- Verify federal student-aid eligibility separately if you plan to use federal financial aid.
- Compare the actual program on cost, curriculum, format, admissions requirements, completion time, and career fit.
Two accredited universities can offer substantially different master’s programs. Accreditation establishes an important baseline for evaluation; it does not tell you which accredited program is the better choice for your circumstances.
Compare your options →Compare Online Master’s Programs, Degrees, and Universities
Learn how to evaluate a program → How to Choose an Online Master’s Program
Continue Your Research
Accreditation is one part of evaluating a graduate program. Use these OMC resources to continue your research based on the decision you are making:
- Understand accreditation in more depth → Accreditation Guide.
Learn about accreditation types, accrediting organizations, recognition, and how to verify accreditation claims. - Choose a master’s program → How to Choose an Online Master’s Program
Evaluate accreditation alongside cost, curriculum, format, admissions requirements, and career goals. - Explore financial-aid options → Financial Aid for Online Master’s Programs
Learn about financial aid and ways to fund graduate education. - Compare universities and programs → Compare Online Master’s Programs
Compare universities, degree options, program formats, and related graduate-school decisions. - Explore master’s programs by subject → Online Master’s Programs by Subject
Find programs and guidance organized around the field you want to study. - Compare ranked program options → Online Master’s Program Rankings
Explore OMC rankings and program lists based on factors such as affordability, program structure, admissions, and other student priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions About College Accreditation
Search for the institution using the Accreditation Checker above and review the accrediting organization and current accreditation status shown in the result. You can also verify accreditation directly through the U.S. Department of Education and the accrediting organization’s official directory.
Do not rely only on a university stating that it is “accredited.” Confirm which organization accredits the institution and whether that accreditation is appropriate for your educational or professional goals .
Read the full breakdown → Accreditation Guide
No. Institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation are different. Institutional accreditation applies to the college or university as a whole. Programmatic accreditation may apply to a particular program, department, professional school, or academic field.
The Accreditation Checker may display programmatic accreditation records associated with the university when they are available in the source data. However, do not assume that a programmatic record applies to your specific degree without reviewing the program or accreditation scope shown in the result .
If specialized accreditation matters for your career or licensing plans, verify your exact program through the relevant accrediting organization.
Not every specialized accreditation may appear in the data used by the checker, and accreditation records may use a program or academic-unit name that differs from the degree name shown on a university’s website. If no programmatic accreditation record appears, do not assume that your program is unaccredited . Identify the specialized accreditor relevant to your field and check its official directory for your specific program.
No. Accreditation is an important part of institutional eligibility for federal student-aid programs, but accreditation by itself does not establish that a school or every program it offers is eligible for federal financial aid .
If you plan to use federal aid, verify the institution’s participation and your program’s eligibility separately through official Federal Student Aid resources. Learn more → Financial Aid for Online Master’s Programs
No. The receiving college or university determines whether it will accept transfer credits.
Accreditation may be considered, but institutions can also evaluate factors such as course content, grades, credit age, degree level, and how the coursework fits the receiving program. If transferring credits is important to you, check the receiving institution’s policy before enrolling.
No. Licensure requirements are established by the applicable licensing authority and vary by profession and jurisdiction.
Depending on the profession, requirements may involve institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation, state approval, specific coursework, supervised experience, examinations, or other criteria. Verify the requirements of the state where you intend to seek licensure before enrolling.
An “Unable to Verify” result does not automatically mean that the institution is unaccredited.
First, confirm that you entered the correct institution name. Then check the institution through the U.S. Department of Education and the school’s stated accrediting organization. If the information remains unclear or conflicting, resolve the accreditation status directly with the institution and accreditor before making an enrollment decision.
The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) both recognize accrediting organizations, but they have different roles.
The Department of Education is a federal agency, and its recognition process is connected to federal higher-education oversight and federal student-aid requirements. CHEA is a nongovernmental higher-education organization with its own recognition standards focused on academic quality and accountability. An accreditor may be recognized by the Department of Education, CHEA, or both , depending on the organization and its role. Read the full breakdown → Accreditation Guide