The Truth About Accreditation: What Actually Matters for Your Career

Accreditation is one of the most misunderstood aspects of higher education, and this confusion costs students thousands of dollars and years of their lives. Most people think "accredited" means "good" and "unaccredited" means "bad," but the reality is much more complex.

I've spent over a decade helping students navigate school selection, and I'm going to give you the straight truth about what accreditation actually means and how it impacts your career prospects.

The Accreditation Hierarchy Nobody Explains

Not all accreditation is created equal. There's a clear hierarchy that determines how your degree will be viewed by employers, graduate schools, and licensing boards:

Regional Accreditation (The Gold Standard)

Regional accreditation is what matters. It's recognized by the Department of Education, accepted by employers, and allows credit transfer between institutions. Examples include Harvard, your local community college, and reputable online universities like Arizona State Online.

National Accreditation (Proceed with Caution)

National accreditation is often misunderstood. It's legitimate but more limited. Credits from nationally accredited schools often don't transfer to regionally accredited institutions, which can trap you in one school system.

Programmatic Accreditation (Specialized Fields)

Certain fields require specialized accreditation beyond institutional accreditation. Engineering programs need ABET accreditation, business schools want AACSB, nursing programs need CCNE or ACEN.

Fake Accreditation (Run Away)

Some schools create fake accrediting bodies or use accreditation from non recognized organizations. These degrees are worthless and often illegal.

What Employers Actually Care About

Here's what might surprise you: most employers don't know the difference between regional and national accreditation. What they do care about is whether your school is legitimate and whether you can do the job.

Large Corporation Hiring

Big companies often have blanket policies requiring degrees from accredited institutions. Their HR systems typically recognize regional accreditation automatically but may flag national accreditation for additional review.

Small Business Hiring

Small businesses care more about your skills and experience than your school's accreditation status. They're hiring you, not your degree.

Government Positions

Government jobs typically require degrees from institutions accredited by agencies recognized by the Department of Education. Both regional and national accreditation usually qualify.

Licensed Professions

Professions requiring licenses (nursing, engineering, teaching) often have specific accreditation requirements beyond institutional accreditation.

The Transfer Credit Trap

Here's where accreditation differences really matter: credit transfer. Regionally accredited schools rarely accept credits from nationally accredited institutions, but nationally accredited schools usually accept regionally accredited credits.

This creates a one way street that can trap you in a school system. If you start at a nationally accredited school and later want to transfer or pursue graduate school at a regionally accredited institution, you might have to start over.

Real World Example

Sarah completed her associate degree at a nationally accredited business college. When she wanted to finish her bachelor's at the local state university (regionally accredited), none of her credits transferred. She had to start over, wasting two years and thousands of dollars.

Graduate School Implications

Graduate schools are more selective about undergraduate accreditation than employers. Most graduate programs at regionally accredited universities require undergraduate degrees from regionally accredited institutions.

If you think you might want to pursue graduate education later, starting with a regionally accredited undergraduate degree gives you the most options.

Professional School Requirements

• Medical school: Requires regionally accredited undergraduate degree
• Law school: Requires regionally accredited undergraduate degree
• MBA programs: Most prefer regionally accredited degrees
• Graduate education: Usually requires matching accreditation type

Industry Specific Considerations

Technology and IT

Tech companies care more about your skills than your degree's accreditation. A portfolio of projects and relevant certifications often matter more than where you went to school.

However, some large tech companies have blanket degree requirements that may exclude nationally accredited degrees through HR filtering.

Healthcare

Healthcare is heavily regulated, and licensing boards have specific accreditation requirements. Make sure your program has the appropriate specialized accreditation for your field.

Business and Finance

Business employers vary widely in their accreditation awareness. Many care more about practical experience and results than educational pedigree.

Education

Teaching requires state licensing, which typically mandates degrees from appropriately accredited teacher preparation programs. Research your state's specific requirements.

Evaluating School Claims

Red Flags in Marketing

Be suspicious of schools that:

• Emphasize their accreditation status excessively
• Use vague language about accreditation
• Claim "equivalent" accreditation
• Focus on accreditation from unknown organizations
• Avoid discussing credit transfer policies

How to Verify Accreditation

Always verify accreditation independently:

1. Check the Department of Education's database of accredited institutions
2. Verify the accrediting agency is recognized by the Department of Education
3. Research the specific program accreditation if required for your field
4. Contact professional licensing boards if relevant

Making Smart Accreditation Decisions

Choose Regional Accreditation If:

• You might want to transfer schools later
• You're considering graduate school
• You want maximum employer acceptance
• You prefer to play it safe with your investment

National Accreditation Might Work If:

• The program is significantly cheaper or faster
• You're certain about your career path
• You've verified employer acceptance in your field
• You don't plan to pursue graduate education

The Cost vs Value Analysis

Sometimes nationally accredited programs offer significantly better value for specific career goals. A nationally accredited IT program that costs $15,000 and takes 18 months might be better than a regionally accredited program that costs $60,000 and takes four years, especially if employers in your target field don't distinguish between accreditation types.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

• What are my long term career goals?
• Might I want to change fields later?
• Do I plan to pursue graduate education?
• How much does speed to market matter vs maximum flexibility?
• What do employers in my target field actually require?

Specialized Accreditation That Actually Matters

In certain fields, specialized accreditation is more important than institutional accreditation:

Engineering (ABET)

Engineering programs need ABET accreditation for graduates to qualify for professional engineering licenses. Non ABET programs severely limit career options in engineering.

Business (AACSB)

AACSB accreditation is the gold standard for business schools. It's not required but significantly enhances the credibility of business degrees.

Nursing (CCNE or ACEN)

Nursing programs need specialized accreditation for graduates to qualify for licensing exams. Check which accreditation your state nursing board accepts.

Teacher Education (CAEP)

Teacher preparation programs need appropriate accreditation for graduates to qualify for teaching licenses.

The Future of Accreditation

Accreditation is evolving. Competency based education, alternative credentialing, and employer direct partnerships are challenging traditional accreditation models.

Some forward thinking employers are moving toward skills based hiring that de emphasizes traditional credentials in favor of demonstrated competencies. This trend may reduce the importance of accreditation type over time.

However, for now, accreditation still matters significantly for credit transfer, graduate school admission, and many employer hiring processes.

Making Your Decision

Don't choose a school based solely on accreditation, but don't ignore it either. Consider accreditation as one factor in your overall evaluation:

1. Identify your career goals and research employer expectations
2. Evaluate program quality beyond just accreditation status
3. Consider total cost including time and opportunity costs
4. Assess flexibility needs for future career changes
5. Verify claims through independent research

The best accredited degree is worthless if it doesn't help you achieve your career goals. The goal is finding the right balance of quality, cost, flexibility, and employer acceptance for your specific situation.

Do your homework, ask the right questions, and choose the path that serves your long term interests, not just what looks impressive on paper.