One of the nation’s most respected national accreditors of higher education institutions.

Founded in 1912, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) is one of the most respected and longest established national accreditor of academic institutions in the United States. It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

The scope of ACICS recognition by the Secretary of Education is defined as accreditation of private postsecondary institutions offering certificates or diplomas, and postsecondary institutions offering associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees in programs designed to educate students for professional, technical, or occupational careers, including those that offer those programs via distance education.

ACICS currently accredits more than 680 institutions throughout the United States and more than a dozen foreign countries enrolling approximately 650,000 students. ACICS is a not for profit organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia with offices maintained in the District of Columbia.