Ensure The Success Of Your Professional Future With A Regionally Accredited University.

When selecting a university, prospective students often consider tuition rates, financial aid, degree programs, and location, but it's important to also factor in accreditation.

 

What Is Regional Accreditation?

Accreditation is awarded to qualifying higher education institutes following an investigation by independent, external auditors through the Higher Learning Commission. It validates the quality of an institution's academic programs at all degree levels, as well as the quality of the institution beyond its academic offerings, by investigating the following questions, and more:

  • Do the degrees offered prepare students for relevant careers in that field?
  • Does the university provide financial and other assistance to students who want it?
  • Are the faculty members adequately qualified to teach their courses?
  • Is the university using ethical strategies to attract prospective students?

These are just a few of the many questions auditors answer during thorough, months-long investigations. Every aspect of an institution’s process is examined comprehensively with compiled data, documentation, and first-hand observation to determine whether a university deserves accreditation.

What Is The Difference Between Regional And National Accreditation?

The difference between a regionally accredited and nationally accredited school is a very important one when choosing the institution you will attend. Regional accreditation is highly regarded around the world because it is a comprehensive, peer-reviewed process that ensures a consistent standard of quality for higher education institutions.

Regional accreditation is rooted in the history of traditional brick-and-mortar colleges and universities, and CSU Global is proud to be the first 100% online, independent, regionally accredited, nonprofit university in the nation.

Regional accreditation standards require that up to one-third of a degree program’s curriculum includes general education courses in social, natural, and physical sciences, English, math, humanities, and art. Regionally accredited universities and colleges usually only accept transfer credits or degrees from other regionally accredited institutions.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The HLC accredits and thereby grants membership to, educational institutions in the North Central region: 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 HLC is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

The HLC has designed the accreditation process to achieve its mission: Serving the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher education.

HLC accreditation is based on the thorough evaluation and fulfillment of five specific criteria:

  • Mission
  • Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
  • Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support
  • Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
  • Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness

An important aspect of regional accreditation is that it must be renewed at regular intervals to ensure academic integrity at the level of a state university.

CSU Global is proud to be reaccredited by the HLC following a comprehensive two-year evaluation including self-study, review, and a site visit that concluded in May 2016. The reaffirmation of accreditation has been granted through 2025-2026 and does not include provisional monitoring.

How Does Accreditation Impact You?

A university’s ability to meet and exceed these high standards is necessary for students to ensure that their education will be respected and valued as they enter the workforce. If your degree is not from a regionally accredited university, potential employers may question the validity of your education, which could impact your ability to get the job you deserve.

Regional accreditation is also important for transferring credits or completing a degree in the future. Most regionally accredited universities only accept transfer credits or degrees from other regionally accredited institutions. If you think you may transfer to another university, or earn a graduate degree following your bachelor’s, it could be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to transfer credits from an unaccredited university.

Earning your degree takes hard work, dedicated effort, time, and finances, which is why it’s crucial that your educational investment pays off in the future. Regardless of what university you decide to attend, be sure the institution is regionally accredited.

CSU Global’s Commitment To Regional Accreditation Standards

At CSU Global we take our regional accreditation very seriously. Achieving the set standards of regional accreditation means that we respond to the needs of our students and communities. To this end, CSU Global shares the learning outcomes for our programs to ensure that students develop modes of inquiry that contribute to scholarship; engage in gathering, analyzing, and sharing information; and acquire skills that successfully translate beyond the classroom to their personal and professional lives.

The University employs highly qualified faculty, most of whom have terminal degrees, and supports their professional development. Students benefit from faculty that have professional experience in the fields they teach.

Additionally, CSU Global provides effective oversight and delivery of support services to ensure the integrity of research and scholarship practiced by faculty, staff, and students. Support services include:

  • Tutoring
  • Financial aid advising
  • Academic advising
  • Career navigation services
  • Military-specific support
  • Library and research resources
  • Co-curricular activities such as honor societies and student groups

CSU Global also regularly engages with our student population, faculty, and independent reviewers through program evaluation and assessment to confirm that academic rigor is maintained and that graduates are successfully prepared for advanced study and employment.

If you're ready to earn a respected, regionally accredited degree, take the first step in achieving your goals by clicking the box below.