Institutional Accreditation vs. Program Accreditation

The quality of a person's education matters, as it can determine how well-prepared they are to enter a career field. In some cases, such as medical and nursing professions, quality of education can even contribute to making the correct decision in life-or-death situations. Because quality is so important in education, students are often advised to attend an accredited university or degree program.

But what is an accredited university, exactly, and what’s the difference between institutional accreditation vs. program accreditation? Let’s take a look at the fundamentals so you can more effectively choose the right school for you.

In This Article:

• What Is an Accredited University?
• What Is an Accredited Program?
• Difference Between Institutional Accreditation vs. Program Accreditation
• Is It the Right College and Program for You?
• A Look at GCU’s Accreditation

What Is an Accredited University?

Some may think that the U.S. Department of Education issues accreditations to colleges and universities, but this isn’t quite accurate.

Instead, the Department of Education recognizes various accrediting bodies. Those independent accrediting bodies then develop and apply standards of quality to the higher education institutions that seek accreditation. If the university or college meets the standards of academic excellence, it is granted accreditation by that accrediting body.

Why is accreditation important? One of the most compelling reasons to attend an accredited school is the quality of education. However, there are other important reasons to look at a school’s accreditation status, as well. For example, consider the following:

• Federal (and sometimes state) student loans often require recipients to attend an accredited school.

• Schools must be accredited by a recognized accrediting body in order to participate in federal financial aid programs.

• Employers may prefer to hire graduates who earned a degree from accredited institutions.

• Graduation from an accredited university might be a requirement for certain professional licenses or certifications.

Types of Institutional Accrediting Bodies

There are various accrediting bodies that evaluate the academic standards of universities and colleges. Some of them specialize in reviewing certain types of schools. For example, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges accredits community colleges.

Other examples of institutional accrediting bodies include:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

• Council on Occupational Education

• Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools

What Is an Accredited Program?

Just as entire universities and colleges can earn accreditation, individual programs can as well. In some cases, it’s necessary for a student to choose a degree program accredited by a certain body because this might allow them to obtain certification or licensure in their intended profession. For example, students in engineering, nursing and counseling fields might need to graduate from an accredited program in order to be eligible to obtain a professional license.

Sometimes, programmatic accreditation applies to an entire college. In other cases, it might only apply to specialized curricula within a certain field of study.

Types of Programmatic Accrediting Bodies

There is a range of programmatic accrediting bodies, as they generally specialize within certain fields. For example, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics specializes in evaluating and accrediting nutrition and dietetics degree programs.

Other examples of programmatic accrediting bodies include:

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation
• Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation

Difference Between Institutional Accreditation vs. Program Accreditation

So, what’s the difference between institutional accreditation vs. program accreditation? It’s fairly simple — institutional accreditation is a status granted to the entire university or college. In contrast, programmatic accreditation is granted to one specific program or degree.

Regional Accreditation vs. National Accreditation

If you’ve done any research beyond reading this blog, you may have also come across the terms “regional accreditation” and “national accreditation.” What do these mean, exactly?

These terms are actually both outdated. In years past, higher education institutions were able to seek institutional accreditation (whole-body accreditation) from either national or regional accreditors. Previously, regional accreditation was considered more prestigious than national accreditation, although both types of accrediting bodies were accountable to guidelines from the Department of Education.

National accrediting bodies were authorized to evaluate and accredit institutions located anywhere in the U.S. Regional accrediting bodies only evaluated higher education institutions located within their respective regions.

However, the Department of Education altered its rules so that there was no distinction between regional and national accreditors. Those differences effectively ceased to exist.¹ Therefore, no institution can claim to have either regional or national accreditation — it’s simply referred to as institutional accreditation.

Programmatic Accreditation

Unlike institutional accreditation, which assesses the overall institution, programmatic accreditation is granted by specialized accrediting bodies that ensure specific programs meet industry standards and adequately prepare students for their careers.

Many professions require graduates from accredited programs for licensure or certification, and this accreditation provides assurance of educational quality. Additionally, it facilitates credit transferability and helps prospective students make informed choices about their education.

Is It the Right College and Program for You?

As important as it is to choose an institutionally accredited university or college (and in some cases, a programmatically accredited degree), this isn’t the only factor you’ll want to consider when choosing a school. There are many accredited higher education institutions and degrees, but not all of them are necessarily right for you and your career plans.

There are many factors you’ll want to consider when making an enrollment decision, such as financial aid availability, geographic location, academic reputation, campus life and philosophy or faith.

Consider asking yourself the following questions during your college/degree program search:

• Does this degree and curriculum fit my career aspirations?
• Does this degree program meet the necessary requirements of the state I plan to work in?
• What’s the academic reputation of this department?
• Did I enjoy the campus during my campus tour?
• Do the campus culture and values align with my own?
• What student support resources are available?
• What campus housing options are available? 

Of course, there are other issues you may want to think about. While no single factor should determine your choice of college, institutional and programmatic accreditation both speak to the quality of education you'll receive and should therefore be top considerations in your decision-making process.

A Look at GCU’s Accreditation

Grand Canyon University has a longstanding tradition of promoting academic excellence within both our online degree programs and our on-campus programs. We are proud to be an institutionally accredited university, having been continuously accredited by the HLC since 1968. In addition, GCU is an institutional member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Our institutional accreditation is a reflection of our commitment to the quality of our education and indicates that our university has been found to have met set standards. In addition to our institutional accreditation, GCU maintains programmatic accreditation for numerous degree programs within our various colleges.

While it’s not possible to list all our programmatic accreditations in this blog, here is a look at some of the degree programs that have been accredited by various accrediting bodies:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Pre-Licensure)
• Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics 
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an Emphasis in Business Entrepreneurship 
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an Emphasis in Game and Simulation Development 
• Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering 
• Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education 

At GCU, you can find programmatically accredited programs available in every modality offered.

GCU invites prospective students to discover more about our learning community. With a wide range of online, on-campus and hybrid degrees available across different fields, you’re sure to find a program that suits your personal interests and career aspirations. Explore our degree programs and speak with a university counselor about your college plans. Fill out the form on this page to get started today.