There is no single accredited type of educational facility. National accreditation can be a misleading term. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Print . When looking into what college or university you want to attend, one of the biggest influencers of your decision should be whether or not the institution in question is accredited. Do Employers Care About GPA? Many colleges that cater to non-traditional students seek national accreditation. That’s why researching a school’s accreditation before enrolling is essential. There are three types of accrediting bodies: regional, national, and programmatic. The university complies with the requirements of each state and reports to each state annually as required by law. These schools typically have fewer liberal arts requirements than those that seek regional accreditation and often, they provide more self-study courses. DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. Students ADN/BSN. Students should refer to the WASC website to learn more about the implications if and when UoPeople is to be accredited. Regional accreditation is more widely respected by the academic elite, employers, and the various magazines and websites that rank organizations in the education industry. But that doesn't mean they are necessarily of lesser quality. And then there is the one thing that takes all of these issues—and more—into consideration and gives you an idea about a school's overall quality. Copyright © University of the People 2020, Giuseppe Zerilli, UK, Computer Science Graduate, Rie Sakurai, Business Administration, Japan, Regional vs National Accreditation: What’s The Difference, Simone Biles, Olympic Champion, Business Administration. Most have heard of regional accreditation, the most commonly recognized term. There are the professional credentials of the professors. Regional Accreditation is state-owned and highly prestigious whereas National Accreditation is career-oriented, vocational, and profit-seeking in nature It is both a process and a status to ensure that higher education institutions and programs meet a set of standards developed by the accrediting councils. ", "In the age of information technology and innovation, University of the People is showing us the way". Regional vs National Accreditation. The main difference between regional and national accreditation is that regionally accredited institutions are more commonly accepted and easily transferable than nationally accredited programs. University of the People has been nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) since 2014. These schools are often less expensive and easier to get into than colleges and universities that are regionally accredited. Sometimes we are programmed to think that something with “national” in the title is automatically bigger and/or better, but in this instance, this isn’t true. UoPeople is always in full compliance with the BPPE and reports to the DEAC and BPPE on a regular basis to ensure our academic and ethical integrity. It is important to note that national accreditation is widely regarded as a less rigorous standard than regional accreditation. … Regional Vs National Accreditation. As a university “for the people by the people”, we care about our community of students and listen to their requests. Regional accreditation is older than national accreditation and, with a few exceptions, more rigorous than national accreditation. Accreditation is a process that ensures colleges and universities meet standards related to everything from an educational institution's mission, strategic plan, academic program, faculty, buildings, technological resources finances and more. The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is a regional accrediting body for the western region of the United States. That's pretty straight forward and easy to understand. ", "UoPeople opened an opportunity for me that didn’t otherwise exist. To sum it up, accreditation is a verification process, done by third parties, through which higher education institutions can show that they are providing quality education. What is national accreditation? When it comes to choosing a college, you've got a lot to consider. Regional accreditation is granted by six different agencies who oversee institutions within a particular region of the US. This means that, despite the possibility of getting additional accreditation by WASC, we will always remain a tuition-free university. Posted May 2, 2017. shanaynay0 (New) I have submitted my application to two different colleges, both of which are technical colleges. National accreditation is notbetter than regional accreditation. Generally speaking, regional accreditation is held in higher regard than national accreditation, though the United States federal government does recognize accrediting agencies of both kinds. And there are all of the intangibles, which play important roles in determining what type of overall educational experience you'll enjoy. The main difference between the two is that credits earned from institutions that are regionally accredited are more widely accepted and thus more easily transferable. Whether regional accreditation continues or regionals become national, the decision to consider and accept transfer credits is up to individual institutions, independent of the accreditor. National accreditation is most often sought by colleges and educational programs that have academic programs focused on specific careers, vocations, and trades. I am currently looking into RN to BSN programs. Some schools just do not fit into the molds created by the regional accreditation associations. Nationally-accredited institutions are generally held to a different, less stringent, set of standards regarding faculty and institutional resources. This peer-review process is the primary means of assuring educational quality in the United States. When choosing which school to attend, it's important to find a college or university that is accredited. The answer depends on your educational goals. Military Education. Additional accreditation only strengthens the validity and transferability of our courses and degree programs. But that doesn't mean they are necessarily of lesser quality. One of University of the People’s ambitions is to be known as one of the best online universities in the world — and because we are well known for standing strong by the saying “for the people, by the people,” we also try to accommodate the wishes of our students as much as possible. To learn more about UoPeople’s accreditation click here. Why is Accreditation important? According to the United States Department of Education, 85 percent of all colleges and universities in the U.S. have achieved regional accreditation. Additionally, most non-profit institutions are regionally accredited while most for-profit colleges and universities are nationally accredited. These schools typically have fewer liberal arts requirements than those that seek regional accreditation and often, they provide more self-study courses. REGIONAL VS.NATIONAL ACCREDITATION REGIONAL NATIONAL -Evaluated by a regional agency -There are six bodies, each covering a different region, that can award regional accreditation -Not based on geography -Evaluates specific types of schools -Compares against similarly designed schools EXAMPLE New England Association of Schools … One of the reasons more colleges and universities seek regional accreditation is that it is widely considered to be the gold standard of college accreditation. Nationally-accredited agencies review institutions of a similar type, such as career, vocational, and technical (art & design, nursing, etc.) Bray, K. (2013). Unlike regional accreditation, national accreditation isn’t based on a school’s location but the type of school. Accreditation ensures that the degree programs offered by an institution will be recognized by both employers as well as other colleges and universities. PSU Regional vs National Accreditation. The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) oversees private, post-secondary institutions operating in California, including University of the People. Accreditation is a process under which an independent body evaluates a college or university to determine whether it meets academic and ethical standards. It is a preliminary finding that the institution is potentially accreditable and can proceed within five years of its Eligibility determination to be reviewed for Candidacy or Initial Accreditation status with the Commission. Elearners. U.S. Standards for Accreditation. University of the People has applied for Eligibility from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Regional accreditation is the more common of the two types of accreditation for colleges and universities. Because of the specialized nature of the degree earned and the curriculum at these institutions, it is hard to compare with traditional degree programs. Three agencies are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation that award schools national accreditation. Traditionally, this has included technical, career, and online schools. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content. Posted Mar 1, 2013. newnurse012. College Accreditation – Regional vs National Accreditation. Our modest assessment fees and one-time enrollment fee, however, will not change. To learn more about UoPeople’s accreditation, click here. Regional and national accredited colleges both have their pros and cons, so it’s essential to consider all options before making an informed choice. One college is both nationally and regionally accredited while the other is only regionally accredited. Instead, there are three: institutional, regional and national. On the other hand, if you are more interested in a vocational or technical program, a nationally accredited institution may be the better fit. Although institutions marked with a national stamp may have rigorous degrees and certificates, and more relaxed admission standards, their credits don’t transfer to a school with regional accreditation and tuition may be higher since their stability depends on keeping shareholders happy. University of the People has applied for Eligibility from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Institutions that are regionally accredited focus on studies that are state-owned. The standards for national accreditation are less rigorous than regional accreditation, and national accreditation is considerably less useful when transferring schools. Maryville University is regionally accredited by the HLC. Nurses Nursing. The term regional refers to the area where the accrediting body operates, and there are seven regional agencies that review the schools in their area. Where accreditation gets a little confusing is when it comes to deciding which type—regional or national—is more important. Regional accreditation is granted by six different agencies who oversee institutions within a particular region of the US. We exist to allow any qualified applicant to pursue his or her degree. Not all accrediting agencies are considered equally reliable. The DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. University of the People is also approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Plain and simple, regional accreditation is not the same as national accreditation. Regional vs. National Accreditation. The US Department of Education recently decided that starting July 1, 2020, colleges and universities will no longer be distinguished by regional and national accreditation because all accrediting agencies are held to the same standards. Regional accreditation is the educational accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities in the United States by one of seven regional accrediting agencies. WSCUC has reviewed the application and determined that the institution is eligible to proceed with an Application for Accreditation. Questions about Eligibility may be directed to the institution or to WSCUC at https://www.wscuc.org/contact or (510) 748-9001. In the case of any sort of change, we will be sure to notify our students far in advance. Quick Links. Considered the most prestigious and widely-recognized type of accreditation, regionally-accredited schools are reviewed by their designated regional agency. In fact, for most students and most situations, regional accreditation is better than national accreditation. If you want to pursue a career that requires an academic degree, then you may want to attend a regionally accredited school. What is the difference between national and regional accreditation? Since many of our students requested UoPeople to also apply for regional accreditation, we decided this was the right move for us. We’re happy to help you determine which college, university, or academic accreditation is right for you. As required by law, UoPeople submits annual reports which include information about our educational programs, program costs, post-graduation job placement rates, and more. That’s why acquiring accreditation by prestigious accrediting agencies, recognized by the US education ministry, is one of our top priorities. It might sound like national accreditation would be more prestigious, but actually, the opposite is true. It is meant to assure the public that an institution has met high standards of quality and effectiveness. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. There's academic rigor. Through the accreditation process, WSCUC helps institutions in developing and maintaining effective educational programs. For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya. A regional accreditation is not the same as a national accreditation for an important reason: the difference is that credits earned at a regionally accredited institution are more widely accepted. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. Public and private four-year institutions are accredited by seven regional bodies, each of which maintains standards for a specific geographical area. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Regional and national accreditation both refer to a status given to an entire institution. It is important that an accrediting body be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The two types of institutional accrediting bodies are Regional and National. Institutions that are regionally accredited focus on studies that are state-owned. Both types of accreditors are eligible for recognition by the U.S. Department of Education. New England Association of Schools and Colleges. A determination of Eligibility is not a formal status with the WASC Senior College and University Commission, nor does it ensure eventual accreditation. (2011). • Regional accreditation of a university is based upon location while national accreditation is not region specific, and there is nothing to suggest that national universities are any better or more important than regional universities. ", — Yann Chemali (@Yannothan) February 27, 2015. As such, the vast majority of regionally accredited colleges or universities will not accept transfer credits or recognize degrees earned … LOCAL — Find Your Station — Fire Safety — Medical Emergencies — Evacuation Info — Disaster Readiness — Volunteer — Smoking Violation — Fire Stat LA — Los Angeles Community Resource Guide for Immigrant Angelenos. American Sentinel University has a very appealing online program which awards an experienced nurse 30 credits for a nursing license and another 30 credits for >2 years of experience. The answer depends on what you, as a current or prospective student—value. To learn more about the role accreditation can play in your academic career, contact the admissions professionals at ECPI University. There's the quality of the curriculum. UoPeople decided to pursue another layer of accreditation by applying for regional accreditation from WASC. Part of the reason you should look for regionally accredited schools instead of nationally accredited schools is because of the standards a college must meet to achieve ac… But first, we’d like you to understand the difference between national and regional institutional accreditation, and how UoPeople fits in. College Accreditation - Regional vs National Accreditation . As the Education Revolution, University of the People offers affordable, tuition-free, online, degree-granting educational programs to any qualified student worldwide. regional vs national accreditation. Here is a look at regional accreditation and national accreditation as well as what each means to you and your educational career. Sometimes students and parents feel confused, not only about what accreditation really means, but also about what the difference is between regional and national … University of the People is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. Regional accreditation is state-owned and highly prestigious, focusing on the degree programs in either public state universities or private colleges and universities. There are two types of accreditation—regional and national—and both are designed to let students and prospective students know that they are attending a reputable college or university. It’s important to remember that here at University of the People, we are committed to our mission to break the barriers that stop students from pursuing a higher education. Regional Accreditation: An Overview. UoPeople is registered with and permitted to operate as an online university in all US states. Each of the regional accrediting agencies evaluates the applicant school to ensure that it meets standards created to ensure quality. Different Accreditation Types. There are many more similarities than differences between national and regional accreditors; this has become increasingly true over time. 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