Accreditation
Accreditation Matters
Accreditation matters at St. Cloud State University for these very important reasons:- Institutional accreditation attests to the integrity of the institution and the quality of its programs through an independent third-party’s evaluation of the institution’s systematic analysis and continuous improvement processes.
- Students attending regionally/nationally-accredited higher education institutions have greater access to federal loans, scholarships, and military program benefits as only regionally/nationally accredited institutions are eligible for federal funding.
- To obtain professional licenses and certifications, individuals are often required to have degrees from accredited institutions and accredited degree programs.
- Accreditation assures students those credits completed at the accredited institution/program are highly likely to be transferable to other accredited institutions/programs.
St. Cloud State University, as an institution, has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1947. The Higher Learning Commission was founded in 1895; it accredits degree-granting post-secondary institutions in the United States.
Many of St. Cloud State University’s academic and student services programs hold accreditations specific to their professional fields and disciplines. A listing of these accreditations may be found on the St. Cloud State University Accreditations and Memberships webpage.
Institutional Accreditation – Higher Learning Commission
Institutional accreditation is validation that St. Cloud State University meets rigorous standards of quality and effectiveness set forth by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). HLC's standards of quality reflect the values of academic freedom in teaching and learning as well as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
The Higher Learning Commission certifies the quality of St. Cloud State University as an entire institution. It evaluates the critical aspects of the University, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources.
The Higher Education Act of 1965 established the “program integrity triad” to provide oversight for higher education in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is one member of the triad; the two other members of the triad are the Federal government and the state in which the institution is located, in our case, the State of Minnesota. The three members of the triad operate independently to focus on issues within their specific scope.
Program/Specialized Accreditation
Program or other specialized accreditation is validation that a specific degree program, family of related professions, or other entity meets standards of quality and effectiveness set forth by the accreditation-granting organization. Some professions have multiple accrediting bodies. It is important to understand not all degree programs, disciplines, or professions have specialized accrediting bodies.
When an academic degree program is accredited, it means the program’s curriculum and quality have been evaluated against a set of standards for a particular profession. Students who successfully complete an accredited program are assured, by the accreditor, the curriculum is designed to include the relevant knowledge and experiences students need to succeed in that profession. In some cases, employers hire only individuals who hold a degree from an accredited program. Some graduate school programs require applicants to hold undergraduate degrees from accredited programs. And often, state licensure boards require individuals to hold a degree from an accredited program to even sit for the licensure exam. When considering accredited academic degree programs, it is also important to ensure the accreditor is recognized by an agency such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the US Department of Education.