There is no centralized authority in the U.S. that exercises control over postsecondary educational institutions. Each state assumes control over education within the state. However, institutions of higher education are generally allowed to operate with considerable autonomy.
Accreditation has developed as a method of peer evaluation of educational institutions and programs in order to insure a fundamental level of quality. National and regional associations have developed criteria and procedures for evaluating institutions or programs to determine whether or not they are providing basic levels of education.
Types of educational accreditation:
Institutional - applies to an entire institution, demonstrating that each of an institution's parts is contributing to the achievement of the institution's objectives.
Programmatic - applies to programs, departments, or schools that are parts of an institution.
If your bachelor's degree and/or paralegal certificate was awarded by a school accredited by an association or agency not included on this list, you may request a review by the PACE Standards Committee. In order to apply for a review, you will need to provide the Committee with a program catalog, institution catalog, and course syllabi. The review process will take 45 days, and the PACE Standards Committee will make the final determination.
Degrees obtained outside the United States must be evaluated by a professional evaluator for their equivalence to U.S. degrees. Paralegal certificates obtained outside the United States must be evaluated by the PACE Standards Committee.
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Vincent Ferrandino, Executive Director
209 Burlington Road
Bedford, MA 01730-1433
Phone: (617) 271-0222
Fax: (617) 271-0950
(CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Jean Avent Morse, Executive Director
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 662-5606
Fax: (215) 662-5950
(DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, PR, USVI)
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Patricia A. Thrash, Executive Director
30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 263-0456 or (800) 621-7440
Fax: (312) 263-7462
(AZ, AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, NM, ND, OH, OK, SD, WV, WI, WY)
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
Joseph A. Malik, Executive Director
3700-B University Way, N.E.
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: (206) 543-0195
Fax: (206) 685-4621
(AK, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
James T. Rogers, Executive Director
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA 30033-4097
Phone: (404) 679-4501 or (800) 248-7701
Fax: (404) 679-4558
(AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Community and Junior Colleges
John C. Petersen, Executive Director
P.O. Box 70
Aptos, CA 95001
Phone: (408) 688-7575
Fax: (408) 688-1841
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Senior Colleges and Universities
Ralph Wolff, Executive Director
c/o Mills College, Box 9990
Oakland, CA 94613-0990
Phone: (510) 632-5000
Fax: (510) 632-8361
(CA, HI, AMERICAN SAMOA, GUAM, COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS)
American Bar Association
750 N. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 988-5617
Fax: (312) 988-5677
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
750 First Street NE, Suite 980
Washington, DC 20002-4241
Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 302
Arlington, Virginia 22201
Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
1722 N. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 955-1113
Council on Occupational Education
4720 Montgomery Lane
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
MBTI Business Training Institute
606 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Phone: (414) 272-0341
Fax: (414) 272-2192
modified 5/2/2012