Why Is Accreditation Important When Choosing an Online University?

Accreditation is an external review process conducted of a college, university, or academic program. The goal is to ensure that institutions of higher education meet acceptable quality standards.

The independent, nongovernmental organizations that perform these reviews are known as accrediting bodies or accrediting agencies. Accrediting agencies must undergo their own evaluation process, called recognition, by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This helps hold accrediting organizations accountable for evaluating colleges and universities fairly and responsibly.

Accreditation is not a one-time process. Instead, it involves ongoing evaluation, reflection, and quality improvement. Accrediting bodies frequently update their requirements to reflect new industry standards, and institutions must submit interim data to demonstrate they remain compliant.

Note: Accreditation is equally important whether you choose an online university or a campus-based school. The way you attend classes may be different, but the role of accreditation in evaluating educational quality and credibility remains the same.

Although accreditation is voluntary for colleges and universities, choosing an accredited school can be important for four main reasons:

1. Federal Financial Aid

To participate in federal student aid programs, a school must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. That means accreditation is vital if you plan to apply for federal financial aid.

2. Transferring Credits

If you want to transfer credits from one school to another, most schools require that the credits come from an accredited institution (though this does not guarantee that your credits will be accepted).

3. Graduate School and Career Considerations

Whatever your next stop may be after you earn your degree, there’s a good chance it requires accreditation of the school where you earned your degree. Graduate programs, employers, licensing boards, and certification organizations often require that your education come from an accredited institution.

4. Quality and Credibility

When a school or program is accredited, it means an independent accrediting organization has evaluated it against established standards for educational quality.

Accreditation falls into two categories: institutional and programmatic (or specialized).

Institutional Accreditation

This type of accreditation evaluates the institution as a whole. According to the U.S. Department of Education, institutional accreditation indicates that “each of an institution’s parts is contributing to the achievement of the institution’s objectives.”

Purdue Global is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Programmatic Accreditation

This type applies to specific departments or degree programs within a college or university. A school can be both institutionally accredited and accredited at programmatic levels. For example:

• The RN-to-BSN degree, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and postgraduate APRN certificate programs at Purdue Global are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
• Business degree programs, including the bachelor's in business administration, MBA, and master's in finance, have received programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Many other programs at Purdue Global hold programmatic accreditation.

What About Regional vs. National Accreditation?

The terms regional and national accreditation were historically used to distinguish the types of accreditors, but in 2020, this distinction was eliminated. You may still encounter the terminology, but institutional accreditation is now the standard term.

To verify a university's accreditation status, you can search these databases:

• Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) database
• Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP)

CHEA’s database is a more user-friendly option, but we recommend searching both. DAPIP is the official federal record for federal financial aid eligibility, while CHEA includes a broader scope of academic quality and specialized programmatic accreditations.

You may also check the school’s accreditation page for details about programmatic accreditation.

Before enrolling, find out the answers to these questions:

• Is the institution accredited by a recognized accrediting organization?
• Does my specific program have programmatic accreditation?
• Does my chosen career require graduation from an accredited program for licensure or certification?
• Could the accreditation affect my ability to transfer credits or pursue another degree?
• What is the institution’s current accreditation status?

Purdue Global is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Certain Purdue Global programs also hold programmatic accreditation or approvals. See the full list here.