A college can be fully accredited while a particular degree program inside it is not accredited by the body that matters for a given career. For students and parents choosing a program in engineering, computing or another technical field, that distinction can affect financial aid, employer hiring and eligibility for a professional license later on. This guide explains the two kinds of accreditation and the public tools for checking each one.

Institutional versus programmatic accreditation

In the United States, accreditation is carried out by private, nongovernmental organizations rather than by the government. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) says colleges and universities are accredited by one of 19 recognized institutional accrediting organizations, and individual programs are accredited by one of about 63 recognized programmatic accreditors. An accreditor counts as recognized when CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education has reviewed it.

Institutional accreditation covers the whole college. It is the type tied to federal student aid: the Department of Education says students can receive federal aid only at an institution accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Programmatic accreditation covers one degree program. ABET, for example, evaluates programs rather than entire institutions.

The Department of Education itself does not accredit any institution or program. It recognizes accreditors that apply for recognition and publishes lists of them.

Step 1: Check the program in ABET's search

For the technical programs ABET accredits, its Accredited Program Search at amspub.abet.org/aps lists both currently and previously accredited programs. When choosing a program, look for the exact degree name and the campus. A university may hold ABET accreditation for its bachelor's in mechanical engineering but not for a similarly named program on another campus or under a different title. ABET applies the same criteria to programs delivered on-site, online or both.

Step 2: Confirm the institution in DAPIP

The Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), at ope.ed.gov/dapip, is the department's master list. Its FAQ describes the database as listing about 6,900 postsecondary institutions and programs, each accredited by an agency or state approval body that the Secretary of Education recognizes. The department also points students to DAPIP to confirm whether an online or distance program is accredited.

Step 3: Cross-check with CHEA

CHEA maintains its own Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations, covering more than 8,200 institutions and more than 44,000 programs. Users can search by institution name or state, or browse by accreditor to see every institution a given organization accredits. CHEA also publishes a directory of recognized accrediting organizations, which helps confirm that an accreditor named on a college website is itself recognized. CHEA also publishes a guide with questions for identifying diploma mills and accreditation mills.

Why licensing boards care

For engineering, the program check carries weight beyond the degree itself. NCEES, which represents the state licensing boards, says boards generally require a bachelor's degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program as the education step toward a professional engineer license, followed by acceptable experience (four years in most states) and passing the FE and PE exams. Many states offer additional paths, and each board sets its own rules, so applicants are advised to verify requirements in the state where they plan to practice.

CHEA notes that some states require accreditation before allowing candidates to sit for state licensure exams in certain professions. ABET says licensure, registration and certification often list graduation from an ABET-accredited program as a minimum qualification, and that many employers, including the federal government, look for it.

A short checklist when choosing a program

  • Find the program's exact name and campus in ABET's search, if the field is one ABET accredits.
  • Confirm the institution and its accreditor in DAPIP or CHEA's database.
  • Check that any accreditor named by the school appears on CHEA's or the Department of Education's recognized lists.
  • For a licensed career, read the education requirement on the state board's website before enrolling.

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