Feb 11, 2025

What Is Programmatic Accreditation?

Studying an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. institution as an international student requires a huge commitment.

From a purely financial perspective, out-of-state and overseas students can expect to fork out upwards of $23,000 in annual fees and tuition when attending a ranked public college — this figure skyrockets to over $42,000 for those enrolled at a private institution — according to figures published by U.S. News. In addition, students have to dig deeper into their pockets to cover the cost of travel, housing, books, and food.

So, how can students ensure that the sacrifice is worth it? One solution is to make sure that they choose an accredited program.

Programmatic accreditation in higher education gives students a clear indication of whether a specific program satisfies the requirements/standards of the field in question. This article takes an in-depth look at programmatic accreditation, including how it works and what students should look for when checking if their program is accredited.

Defining Programmatic Accreditation

Also referred to as specialized accreditation, programmatic accreditation is a detailed process designed to ensure that specific educational standards are met by individual academic programs. To be accredited, a program’s curriculum and faculty quality must be assessed by an officially recognized accrediting agency.

Legitimate accrediting agencies must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). By enrolling in an accredited program, students can be sure that their degree or academic qualifications will be recognized and honored by potential transfer or graduate schools and employers.

Students must attend accredited programs before joining certain professions that require certification and/or licensure to work. Examples of fields that require this form of accreditation include, law, business, nursing, healthcare, psychology, and education.

The Importance of Programmatic Accreditation

This type of accreditation applies to a single school or degree program offered through an accredited institution. It ensures that the program meets the established standards of educational quality. Programmatic accreditation is necessary for a variety of fields as well as online universities and colleges. Accreditation of online institutions ensures that they offer the same level of quality learning as conventional schools.

Students who graduate from courses that are not programmatically accredited in fields where accreditation is required, like psychology or nursing, do not qualify for licensing or certification exams.

Lastly, accreditation demonstrates to potential employers that graduates have undergone relevant education and gained the necessary skills and knowledge.

How to Find Out If a Program Is Accredited

Unscrupulous accreditation agencies may try to mislead students by using fake names — which closely resemble those of legitimate accreditors. Online programs/institutions are evaluated by the same agencies that check traditional on-campus programs.

To avoid wasting time and money on illegitimate programs, students should research a school’s accreditation before enrolling.

  • To check whether a program is accredited, learners can start by looking for programmatic accreditors on its official website.
  • Secondly, they should verify that the accreditation is current by checking the list of members in the accrediting agency’s directory.
  • Lastly, students must confirm whether the accrediting agency is duly recognized by looking for its name in the ED directory and/or CHEA database.

Make Your Credentials Matter

While program accreditation may not be at the top of any student’s list when looking for the perfect higher-learning institution, it should form an important part of their decision-making process. Students risk ending up with accrued credits that cannot be transferred to other reputable schools or unappealing qualifications if they choose to enroll in an unaccredited program.

Looking to pursue your academic dreams by enrolling in an accredited program? Contact Bruscan Educational Information Services to find out how we can help.