Accrediting Agencies and Associations Recognized
by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
The Secretary of Education is required by statute to publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations which the Secretary determines to be reliable authorities as to the quality of training offered by educational institutions and programs. The National Advisory Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility assists the Secretary in determining which accrediting bodies should be listed. Accrediting bodies that achieve recognition are reviewed at least every 4 years thereafter.
The commissions of the regional associations and the national institutional and specialized accrediting agencies which are recognized by the SecJuly 18, 2008r programs. They promulgate standards of quality or criteria of institutional excellence and approve or admit to membership those institutions that meet the standards of criteria.
Regional Institutional Accrediting Associations
(with Regional Commissions and states in region)
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands) |
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 1866 Southern Lane Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 Telephone (404) 679-4501 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia) |
| New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education Commission on Technical and Career Institutions 209 Burlington Road Bedford, Massachusetts 01730-1433 Telephone (617) 271-0022 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) |
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities C/o Mills College, Box 9990 Oakland, California 94613 Telephone (415) 632-5000 (California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, The Republic of Palau, The Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of Marshall Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas) |
| North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400 Chicago, Illinois 60602 Telephone (800) 621-7440 (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, new Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming) |
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges 3402 Mendocino Avenue Santa Rosa, California 95403 Telephone (707) 569-9177 (California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, The Republic of Palau, The Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of Marshall Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas) |
| North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Schools Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona 85287-3011 Telephone (800) 525-9517 (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, new Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming) |
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Schools 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 200 Burlingame, California 90410 Telephone (415) 375-7711 (California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, The Republic of Palau, The Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of Marshall Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas) |
| Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges 11130 N.E. 33rd Place, Suite 120 Bellevue, Washington 98004 Telephone (206) 827-2005 (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington) |