Below is a list of organizations that offer accreditation to institutions of higher learning,
Most independent accreditors have been severely criticized for not being recognized by the US Department of Education or accredited
by CHEA, a non-profit organization of colleges and universities serving as the member schools appointed national
advocate for voluntary self-regulation through accreditation. As a matter of form, CHEA is a product of those members of private
agencies approved by the US Department of Education to award US Government Guaranteed Student Loans. Criticism of CHEA, principally
by many of those members of agencies listed below, has been on the basis that the organization provides no venue for fair or
impartial review when the accrediting agency is not one of the approved agencies of the USA Department of Education
or in a highly specialized unique field of endeavor that dominates the profession.
The accrediting agencies below are those independent organizations that have a
presence on the world-wide-web and steadfastly claim their own legitimacy.
The Academy, as a matter of policy,
suggests that new institutions or those not seeking voluntary accreditation in the USA among US Department of Education approved
regional and national private accrediting agencies, should check carefully before applying for membership and approval from
any of the listed privately organized accrediting agencies below. In addition, an independent survey of each organization's
membership as to whether or not membership and accreditation with that organization is both worthwhile and respected by its
members would be prudent. Contact the Academy for any assistance in evaluating the veracity of claims made by the accrediting organizations listed and
the real and perceived value of institutional association.
The following
are private, non government, higher education accrediting agencies.
Each of these private agencies claims it can accredit the value of collegiate work accomplished
by students from a member organization. Many current detractors may object or find fault with their claims of authenticity
as well as their private and independent status. Some self-proclaimed keepers of the accreditation torch are vocal in
their resistance to these particular private accreditors and consider any private accrediting agency other than those
approved by the US Department of Education as unworthy, bogus, or outright diploma mill fronts. The claim of "bogus"
may also target legitimate state and international licensed authorities as well.
A review of these particular accreditors above reveals, in many instances,
acceptable credentials by the agency's member schools . More often than not, they espouse a solid mission
statement. The key is not whether the agency meets someone else's approval but whether or not the joined member institution
would want to be associated with those who are also members.
The validity of the organization is therefore
built on the quality of a so-called accreditation organization's members.
