What is Accreditation?

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What is Accreditation?

The following short article is written to provide general advice about online education and degrees, not just information specific to WGU. If you have specific questions about WGU, feel free to inquire online or speak with an enrollment counselor (1-866-225-5948).

What is Accreditation?

Dictionary.com defines “accredit” as “to certify as meeting all formal official requirements of academic excellence…”

Regional Accreditation

Regional accreditation, the highest form of accreditation bestowed upon universities, puts a school at the top of its class in its area.

For instance, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an accrediting commission recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, has accredited universities such as:

Degree-Specific Accreditations

Colleges and universities also earn accreditations in particular fields of study. Some important accreditations include:

  • CCNE accreditation (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education)
  • NCATE accreditation (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education)

Before enrolling in an online university, make sure it is accredited and also possesses degree-specific accreditations in the field you wish to study.