There
are three types of accreditation that exist in the United States: National,
Regional, and Specialized. National associations accredit single-focused
institutions (e.g. a faith-based institution).
Regional accreditation
is a voluntary process that most colleges and universities participate in. The Institution asks the regional
accrediting body of the geographic region to make a comprehensive assessment of the College's programs, its faculty, its student support, and its resources to determine if the College meets the standards of higher education.
The Higher Learning
Commission is one of eight regional accrediting associations. It accredits over
1,000 institutions of higher education across nineteen states, including
Illinois.
Specialized accrediting
associations do not accredit institutions; they accredit professional or
specialized programs (e.g., engineering, allied health, nursing, child
development, medicine, law, psychology).
Enrolling in and
graduating from an accredited university or community college, such as any one
of the seven City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), is critical to CCC students for a
number of reasons. Our accreditation ensures that the college can participate in federal financial aid programs ad that students can transfer credit to other colleges.
U.S. Department of Education:
- Provides federal financial aid
(e.g., PELL grants) for students enrolled in institutions accredited by
the Higher Learning Commission;
- Considers requests for
grants from institutions that are regionally accredited by the Higher
Learning Commission.
State Regulatory
Agencies:
- Provide State grants (e.g.,
MAP) for students who are enrolled in institutions that are regionally
accredited by the Higher Learning Commission;
- Allow students who have
graduated from programs accredited by the appropriate specialized
accrediting association to sit for national licensure exams.
Universities and
Four-Year Colleges:
- Accept transfer credit for the
Associate Degree and IAI approved courses from Illinois community colleges
that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Employers:
- Evaluate transcripts from
applicants who are enrolled in or have graduated from Illinois community
colleges and universities that are regionally accredited by the Higher
Learning Commission.