When researching potential colleges and universities, it is important to look at the quality of education provided by a university. Doing so will ensure that your degree will be recognized by the professional and educational worlds. Without the proper accreditation, it is possible that your degree will not be worth the paper it is printed on.

When researching a university's quality standards, you will hear the terms national and regional. They both sound impressive, but despite what many believe, regional accreditation is the gold standard of quality when it comes to a degree.

What is Regional accreditation?

There are six accrediting bodies, which are listed below. Each one encompasses many public and private institutions in their defined geographic areas of the country. They not only certify school at the college level, they are also responsible for certifying many elementary, junior high, and high schools.

The six regional bodies in the United States:

1. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges

3. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

4. Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

5. Western Association of Schools and Colleges

6. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

What are national accrediting bodies?

You will also hear the term nationally accredited. How do they differ from regional agencies? The main difference between the two bodies is that regionally accredited colleges and universities are academically oriented, not for profit institutions. In most cases, nationally accredited colleges and schools tend to be for profit institutions such as vocational schools, technical schools, and career schools.

In Summary

Academic quality is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a school. Without the proper accreditation, your degree may not be recognized by future employers. In addition, if you plan to earn a master's degree or doctorate degree, you will not be able to do so if your university did not have the proper credentials. So, it pays to do your research before you apply to any university.

Most colleges and universities are proud of their accreditation status and display it openly on their website. In most cases, you can find out the university's status simply by looking at the "About Us" section of the university website. If you are unable to determine this, or if you have any questions about your program or school's quality, check out the regional agency's website or call their help line to determine if your desired university has attained the proper credentials.