College Accreditation

College AccreditationAt the minimum, a college or university must be accredited by one of six regional accrediting agencies.  Regional accrediting agencies are well established and accredit a full range of academically-rigorous and transfer-track institutions.  Recently, for-profit colleges have also sought regional accreditation.   The First Generation Foundation recognizes that high-quality vocationally oriented educational programs also provide your student with marketable skills.

The First Generation Foundation focuses on traditionally funded and chartered institutions of higher learning. Transferring credit between and among the six regional accrediting agencies is a bit more accepted than transferring credit from a nationally accredited institution to a regionally accredited institution.

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Created in 1919, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are approximately 525 schools accredited by this commission.

New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)

The CIHE covers the six New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The commission is made up of 24 people elected by the member colleges. There are currently about 240 colleges and institutions accredited by the CIHE.

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission

This commission accredits higher education institutions in the 19 north central states of Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming. Over 1000 institutions are currently accredited by this commission.

Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

This commission accredits institutions of higher education in the seven states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. It currently has 162 institutions with accredited status.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

Colleges and universities in the 11 southern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia are accredited by this commission which was founded in 1912. There are currently about 800 institutions accredited by this commission.

This association was formed in 1962 and has two accrediting agencies that accredit schools of higher education: The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges which has about 150 accredited schools and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities which has accredited about 160 schools. These commissions accredit institutions in California and Hawaii as well as some U.S. territories.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

This association was formed in 1962 and has two accrediting agencies that accredit schools of higher education: The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges which has about 150 accredited schools and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities which has accredited about 160 schools. These commissions accredit institutions in California and Hawaii as well as some U.S. territories.