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When a school says it is accredited, it means an outside organization reviewed that school and decided it met specific quality standards in areas such as student achievement, curriculum, services, and academic support. Individual programs may also be accredited based on similar standards.

Why Accreditation Matters

Accreditation assures you that a school meets the level of quality you expect from an institution of higher education. If the accrediting organization is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, it will also ensure that a college meets the regulatory requirements allowing students to participate in federal financial aid programs.

Accreditation also lets others know the school you attended met quality standards. For example, if you choose to transfer to another school, your new school will be more likely to accept your credits if your previous institutions were accredited. Your future employers may also ask if your educational institutions were accredited when evaluating your resumé. You may be required to provide the status of your college’s accreditation before receiving payment for tuition and fees if your employer provides tuition reimbursement.


AACC Accreditation

At AACC, we take our accreditation very seriously. For us, accreditation reflects our commitment to excellence and innovation. AACC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which maintains quality assurance in institutions of higher education for the mid-Atlantic region.

In addition to Middle States, many of AACC’s academic programs receive additional accreditation from other organizations recognized by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. You’ll find the separate accreditation status of select AACC academic programs, such as Nursing and other health-related degrees, the culinary program and more, within the descriptions of those individual areas.


Approved Credential Levels

The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:

  • Postsecondary award (< 1 year) 
    Included within the scope
  • Postsecondary award (1-2 years) 
    Included within the scope
  • Associate's Degree or Equivalent 
    Included within the scope
  • Post-baccalaureate Certificate 
    Included within the scope

Questions?

Our president is here to help.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay

Send Email

Middle States Commission on Higher Education
3624 Market Street, Suite 2 West
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Email: info@msche.org