User Agreement

Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) database lists more than 8,200
degree-granting and non-degree-granting institutions and more than 20,400 programs that are accredited by United States accrediting organizations that have been recognized either by CHEA or by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or both. Each accrediting organization’s list of institutions or programs is prefaced by a brief description of the accredited status of the institutions or programs on the list and the year for which the list is accurate. The information in the CHEA database was supplied by the accrediting organizations. It has been reformatted but otherwise not edited by CHEA.

To be “recognized” means that the accreditors in the database have been reviewed by CHEA or USDE and meet the quality standards of the respective organizations. The primary purpose of CHEA recognition is to assure and strengthen academic quality and ongoing quality improvement in courses, programs and degrees. CHEA recognition is based on five standards that may be found in the CHEA Recognition Policy and Procedures. The primary purpose of USDE recognition is to assure that federal student aid funds are purchasing quality courses and programs. USDE’s recognition is based on ten standards that include attention to, e.g., fiscal and administrative capacity as well as recruitment and admissions practices. These standards may be found at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/ accred/accreditation_pg13.html (Part 602, Subpart 602.16: Secretary’s Recognition of Accrediting Agencies).

As of January 2005, USDE publishes a database of Postsecondary Educational Institutions and Programs Accredited by Accrediting Agencies and State Approval Agencies Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. This is available at www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. The database lists approximately 6,900 postsecondary institutions and programs, each of which is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a “reliable authority as to the quality of postsecondary education” within the meaning of the U.S. federal Higher Education Act of 1965.

Some accrediting organizations and their institutions and programs appear in both the CHEA database and the USDE database. Others may appear in one but not both. Whether in the CHEA or USDE database, accrediting organizations identified in the database have been “recognized.” For a list of all accrediting organizations recognized by CHEA or USDE, please click here for the “Recognition Chart.”

Accreditors exercise independent judgment about whether to seek CHEA recognition. CHEA recognized organizations must meet CHEA eligibility standards. If the accrediting organization has USDE recognition, accreditation from the organization is used by an institution or program to establish eligibility to participate in federal student aid or other federal programs. Some accreditors cannot be considered for USDE recognition because they do not provide access to federal funds. Other accreditors have chosen not to pursue USDE recognition.

Because CHEA and USDE recognition both depend on a range of factors, users of the CHEA database are cautioned against making judgments about the quality of an accrediting organization and its institutions or programs based solely on inclusion in one database or the other. Additional inquiry is essential. Users are urged to contact the accrediting organization, institution or program for additional information.

As more fully set forth in the User Agreement for Publications of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the CHEA database is provided as a public service without warranty of any kind. The database does not constitute an endorsement by CHEA of institutions or programs contained in it.

Before you may use the CHEA institutions and programs database, you must first read and agree to the terms and conditions as spelled out below.

USER AGREEMENT FOR PUBLICATIONS OF THE
COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION
(Last updated January 2012)

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS IS A CONTRACT. BY CLICKING "I AGREE" BELOW, YOU ACCEPT ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Before being given access to materials (the "Publications") that are published by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation ("CHEA"), please indicate whether you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. If you agree, you will be given access to the Publications. Scope of Use The Publications are protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. CHEA invites you to view and use the Publications, and to download reasonable portions of the information in any Publication, for your informational, non-commercial use. You may not modify, reproduce or distribute the Publications or any information in the Publications without written permission from CHEA. Trademarks CHEA is a service mark of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. You may not remove the CHEA service mark from, or otherwise obliterate the CHEA service mark on, any information you may download from any Publication. Unauthorized use of the CHEA service mark may be a violation of federal and state trademark laws. No Warranties ALTHOUGH CHEA HAS USED REASONABLE EFFORTS TO COLLECT AND VERIFY THE INFORMATION IN THE PUBLICATIONS, CHEA CANNOT ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE, CURRENT OR COMPLETE. THE INFORMATION IN THE PUBLICATIONS IS PROVIDED TO YOU ON AN "AS IS," "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. CHEA MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENCY, OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION IN THE PUBLICATIONS. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING ANY INFORMATION BEFORE RELYING ON IT. CHEA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES THAT USE OF THE PUBLICATIONS WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE THAT ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY OBTAIN FROM THE PUBLICATIONS IS FREE OF VIRUSES. Limitation of Liability CHEA specifically disclaims any liability, whether based in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise, for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of or in any way connected with access to or use of the publications, even if CHEA has been advised of the possibility of such damages, including but not limited to reliance by any party on any information obtained through the use of the publications, or damages of any kind that arise in connection with mistakes or omissions in, or delays in transmission of, information, interruptions in telecommunications connections to the publications or viruses, whether caused in whole or in part by negligence, acts of god, telecommunications failure, theft or destruction of, or unauthorized access to the publications, or related information or software. Location This Web site is operated by CHEA from its offices in the District of Columbia, USA. This agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, USA.

BY PRESSING "I AGREE" BELOW, YOU CONSENT TO BE BOUND BY THE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

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