Accreditation is a voluntary and not-for-profit process. Accreditation of a distance education or online institution ensures that it is operating according to the set principles and is meeting the required standards for an international online education institution. Accreditation for traditional or campus based institutions ensures that the institution is operating as per the criteria and standards of quality education and is meeting the benchmark set by the accreditation agencies and higher learning commissions.

If an institution is accredited and recognized from a reputable accreditation agency, that ensures that the institution is offering quality education and its degrees are recognized and accepted worldwide. It guarantees that the educational standards of the accredited institution would not weaken, which helps strengthen the institute’s credibility and wide recognition.

Whether the institution is based on traditional method of study or it grants degrees online, every educational institution requires to be accredited by some regional or national accreditation body. To pass accreditation standards, every educational institution must have well-defined educational objectives along with an overall mission. All these goals, educational standards, degree programs, mission of institution and other important documents must be presented to the accreditation association. In turn, the accreditation body will go through all the documentation and make further actions. The accreditation organization examines the school's overall administration, faculty, technical, physical, and financial resources, integrity and ethical standards.

Regional Accreditaiton Organizations

Most major colleges and universities are assessed and reviewed by regional accreditation organizations. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation has determined that regional accrediting associations in the United States can establish standards for review and can offer Regional Accreditation for colleges and universities. The main regional accreditation organizations approved by the Department of Education include:

• The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation of colleges in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.
• The New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Accreditation of colleges in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
• The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation of colleges in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
• The Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Accreditation of colleges in Alaska, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation of colleges in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Accreditation of colleges in California, Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Pacific Basin, and East Asia.

National Accrediatation agencies

National accreditation agencies, such as Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), and Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), to name a few, are different in that they accredit schools located within the United States, as well as some schools abroad.

Specialized Accrediatation

An online institution of higher education may also have accreditation of a particular program of study. This accreditation is called specialized accreditation. For example, students studying towards specific professions like medicine, dentistry, nursing, law, or engineering.