College Accreditation Is Changing. Here’s What Students Need To Know.

Best Colleges

Matthew Arrojas

April 12, 2024

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have been unhappy with the state of college accreditation for some time now, and calls for change are only getting louder as the 2024 general election approaches.

But while politicians and student advocates seem to agree that accreditation needs fixing, finding consensus on which parts of the system require the most work remains elusive.

“We all agree that the accreditation system is not working as intended,” Stephanie Hall, senior director of higher education policy at the Center for American Progress, told BestColleges. “What we need to address now is where we diverge.”

The two sides are currently far apart. But Emily Rounds, education policy advisor at the left-leaning think tank Third Way, believes compromise is possible.

“Protecting students and prioritizing student achievement could … receive bipartisan support,” she told BestColleges.

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