Accreditation
DIPLOMA MILLS | ACCREDITATION | UNACCREDITED COLLEGES | FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
 Complete list of accredited U. S. colleges
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT WE HAVE BECOME AWARE OF SOME QUESTIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OF THIS DATABASE.
UNTIL THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, PLEASE DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON THIS RESOURCE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT AN INSTITUTION IS PROPERLY ACCREDITED.
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation Database, available by clicking HERE, may be a more reliable resource until the problems with the US Department of Education's database are addressed.
Warning - fake DETC web site: http://idetc.org/accredited_institution.htm - A web site called International DETC that recently emerged as part of an unaccredited entity called American Central University, is a fraudulent attempt to hijack the genuine DETC name and school list in order to advance the goals of a diploma mill. The diploma mill is probably operating out of Wyoming and/or Malaysia. DETC is taking legal action to have the fake web site removed.
Legitimate Accreditation Organizations
Accreditation of colleges in the U.S. is done by regional and specialized accrediting associations operated by consortia of member colleges. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes accrediting bodies for purposes of institutional financial aid eligibility and other areas in which the federal government has an interest. The U.S. government itself does not accredit colleges, unlike common practice in many countries. Likewise, the federal government does not accredit or conduct academic evaluation of foreign colleges.
Approval by a state government is not accreditation, unless the approval is accreditation by the New York Regents.
For a complete list of legitimate accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, see the following website:
www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
How does ODA evaluate foreign colleges?
ODA uses three principal screening tests to decide whether a non-U.S. college issues degrees legitimate for use in public or licensed employment in Oregon. In order to be allowed in Oregon, a degree must meet ALL of these tests.
- Can the school's degrees be used as credentials within the host country? That is, if the school issues an M.D., can the person use that degree to become licensed to practice medicine in the host country? In many cases the country has a formal list of its approved schools. Unfortunately, in some cases this list includes some stowaways owing to inadequate screening.
- Does the host country have adequate academic oversight practices? Under Oregon law, ODA determines this on a case-by-case basis. Our list of unaccredited schools provides an idea of which countries have doubtful oversight.
- Do accredited Oregon colleges generally accept credits or degrees issued by the foreign school?
ODA can advise Oregon residents as to whether a degree from a foreign school is likely to be accepted here. Our principal consultant on foreign school evaluations is the international office at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers in Washington, D.C.
Note that the UNESCO database is no longer reliable as an indicator of the legitimacy of foreign schools because UNESCO has no screening function and has permitted some doubtful schools to be listed.
“Accrediting” entities not recognized by the State of Oregon
In order to be valid for public or licensed employment in Oregon, a degree must be earned at one of the following:
- An institution accredited by an U.S. accreditor recognized as such by the U.S. Department of Education. Licensure by another state (except for the New York Board of Regents) does not by itself meet this standard.
- A foreign institution having the foreign equivalent of U.S.-approved accreditation as determined by ODA.
- A U.S. institution approved by ODA subsequent to evaluation.
Because of the proliferation not only of substandard colleges but of questionable accrediting bodies, ODA is providing this list of well-known unapproved “accreditors” as a public service. This is not a comprehensive list of unapproved “accreditors,” but simply a list of some that have come to ODA’s attention.
These bodies are not approved by the U.S. Department of Education and therefore any so-called “accreditation” by these bodies is meaningless in Oregon and in some other states. “Accreditation” of an institution by any of these entities does not meet legal requirements for use in Oregon of a degree earned at such an institution (ORS 348.609).
For more information on accreditation and fraud, click on the link below. It is a federal resource on fakery.
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-accred-fraud.html
For information on how to obtain an “Apostille” for international validation of degrees issued in Oregon, click on the link below. It will take you to the Corporation Division of the Oregon Secretary of State website.
www.sos.state.or.us/corporation/notary/howtoauth.htm
Office of Degree Authorization
1500 Valley River Drive
Suite 100
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 687-7452
www.osac.state.or.us/oda
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