Accredited MBA Programs & Organizations

Accreditation assures students, parents and the public that a school adheres to high quality standards based on the latest research and professional practice.

An accredited school must continue to demonstrate during regular review cycles that it is developing and growing, not just maintaining existing standards.

Advantages to Attending an Accredited Business School

Qualify for Financial Aid

Accreditation also creates a gateway for students to participate in federally funded and state financial aid programs. In order to receive federal funds, a school must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by The U.S. Department of Education (DOE). All Business Schools only lists schools accredited by a DOE-recognized accrediting body.

Qualify for Graduate School

Schools will often only recognize credits earned at institutions holding the same level of accreditation. Graduates from programs at accredited institutions qualify to attend other accredited schools to pursue advanced studies, including MBA and doctoral programs.

Most AACSB-accredited schools will only recognize undergraduate credits as satisfying first-year MBA core course requirements if those undergraduate credits were awarded by other AACSB schools. Accreditation also affects transfer credits if you should relocate while in the progress of pursuing, for example, your MBA.

Earn a More Marketable Degree

Attending an accredited school can also make you more competitive in the job market; some employers will only accept degrees from accredited institutions when considering promotions or salary.

Business School Accreditation Agencies

The most rigorous national business accreditation body is the AACSB International -- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. It was organized in 1916 by a group of leading business schools, including Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, NYU, The Ohio State University, The University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the University of Pennsylvania, among others.

AACSB

The AACSB accredits top-tier universities that offer doctoral, masters and baccalaureate level business management and accounting degrees. AACSB accreditation is widely regarded as the highest level of accreditation for business schools, only 25% of U.S. business schools achieve AACSB accreditation. The AACSB’s accreditation standards focus on excellence and continuous improvement.

Other accrediting bodies include the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and regional accrediting agencies.

ACBSP

The ACBSP accredits smaller private schools that offer associate’s, baccalaureate and master’s level business degrees. The ACBSP’s accrediting standards place an emphasis on teaching and outcomes.

DETC

The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) accredits online or distance learning programs that have been in existence for at least two years. Regional accrediting bodies accredit an entire college or university.

CHEA

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) recognizes the following regional accrediting agencies:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Different Levels of Accreditation

Most accreditation organizations use the same standards and criteria to accredit each program type; however, accreditation is granted for specific periods of time that differ between individual schools and programs. Check with the school or the accrediting body to determine the length of time for which the school is accredited.

Checking School Accreditation Status

AACSB-accredited programs are identified on AllBusinessSchools.com by a clearly marked logo next to the school/program name.

Attending an Unaccredited School

Business education is a serious investment of time and can be a serious investment of money as well. You should exercise caution in regards to attending any school which is not accredited by a DOE-recognized accrediting body. As noted above, you may find that the lack of accreditation means the degree you earn does not allow you to achieve the goals you set out to. Attending a non-accredited institution also means that you will not be qualified for financial aid.