Definition: Accreditation is intended to ensure that institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality. There are many accrediting agencies; however, those recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council of Higher Education Accreditation are the most reputable. Indicators of quality rated by most accrediting associations include faculty-student ratio, faculty education, faculty scholarly productivity, student retention, time to graduation, curriculum, and internship/out of class experiences.
As you consider graduate programs, be sure to determine whether the institution is accredited by a reputable body. A degree from a program that is not accredited may not meet professional requirements for employment or, in fields that require it. In addition to institutional accreditation, many programs are accredited by disciplinary associations. For example, clinical psychology programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (note that APA accredits only practitioner programs such as those in clinical, counseling and school psychology). Business, nursing, and social work programs are also accredited by discipline-specific associations.
