MBA Accreditation Guide | Bankrate

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MBA accreditation is a process that evaluates the quality of education a college, university or specific program offers its students. This means schools and programs that are properly accredited are best positioned to prepare students for a career in their field of study.

Accredited MBA programs in particular tend to have high academic standards, which can boost graduates’ prospects when they enter the workforce. Before selecting an accredited MBA program, make sure you understand the differences between the types of accreditation and the organizations that provide them.

What are the types of MBA accreditation?

MBA students typically encounter three main types of accreditation:

• Regional
• National
• Programmatic

Regional and national accreditation measure quality at the institutional level, while programmatic accreditation evaluates specific programs within that institution.

Regional accreditation

Regional accreditation measures a school’s academic quality, faculty and student services against the standards for that area. Without regional accreditation, schools may not qualify for federal funding, and their credits may not transfer to accredited schools.

Regional accreditation depends entirely on the school’s location. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes six graduate-focused accreditation agencies across the country to evaluate the schools in their respective regions:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC): The HLC region covers 19 states throughout much of the north-central area of the country.
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE): The MSCHE region includes several eastern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE): The NECHE region covers six New England states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU): The NWCCU region spans the northwest section of the country, including distance programs offered by institutions in this region.
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC): The SACSCOC region includes much of the southeastern parts of the country, covering 11 states and Latin America.
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC): The WSCUC region covers schools in California and Hawaii.

National accreditation

National accreditation compares institutions with a specific career focus against each other, such as nursing schools. National accreditation is typically held in lower regard than regional accreditation since nationally accredited schools are usually for-profit institutions with less competitive acceptance standards.

Programmatic accreditation

Programmatic accreditation recognizes the specialized and professional programs within an institution rather than the institution itself. Several national organizations offer MBA accreditation for specific programs. The quality of recognition from these programs can vary, as well as the standards they use to judge programs. A few organizations are:

• The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) recognizes all levels of college and university business degrees around the world. The organization emphasizes “advancing and recognizing excellence in business education through continuous improvement.” ACBSP has provided accreditation to more than 1,200 member campuses across 60 countries.
• The Association of MBAs (AMBA) offers an accreditation service that recognizes the top graduate-level business programs, providing DBA, MBA and master’s degree accreditation. The association evaluates eligible schools and programs, basing decisions on teaching, curriculum design and career development. AMBA has accredited more than 310 schools in 80 countries.
• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) provides accreditation to more than 1.000 business schools around the world in more than 100 countries. AACSB-accredited programs meet the organization’s standards for teaching and learning, management, engagement, thought leadership and innovation.
• Managed by the European Foundation for Management Development, the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation system evaluates business management schools and programs. EQUIS measures schools in 10 areas, including programs, faculty, research, responsibility and sustainability. The organization provides accreditation to nearly 230 business schools worldwide.
• The International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) provides accreditation to business schools and programs based on the mission and outcomes of their training. IACBE accredits more than 2,000 business and accounting programs in more than 20 countries around the world.

Why is MBA accreditation important?

MBA accreditation gives students peace of mind when selecting a school, and there are several reasons why MBA accreditation is important.

Ensures consistent quality

Accreditation helps schools adhere to a regional or national standard, depending on the accrediting agency they use. Attending a school with MBA accreditation can ensure the program you enter has the most up-to-date educational standards.

Additionally, student loan lenders require that you attend an accredited school. Programs without accreditation may still offer quality training, but degree-seekers have no way of knowing this for sure.

Easier to transfer

If you don’t expect to finish your MBA education at the same college where you began studying, you can easily transfer credits from an accredited program to another school or program. It will also help you qualify for graduate school since graduate programs most likely require an accredited undergraduate degree.

Employer recognition

While not technically mandatory for employment, employers trust the quality-vetting accreditation process as much as students. Employers may look for accredited schools on your application, so top employers may recruit only at MBA-accredited schools. Employer benefits such as tuition reimbursement will also most likely be extended to graduates from accredited schools.

Bottom line

MBA accreditation is a comprehensive evaluation process that helps students, employers, and schools determine the quality of an MBA program. It is an important factor to consider when selecting a school and can lead to better career opportunities and higher earning potential for graduates.

Frequently asked questions about MBA accreditation

• What is the best MBA accreditation?
  

  Each MBA accreditation offers a different focus. While many view AACSB-accredited programs as the gold standard, other accreditations may provide more research-based or practical training. Prospective students can look to their ideal employers to see if they have a preference.

• Do employers care about MBA accreditation?
  

  Graduating from a school with an MBA accreditation can give you a leg up when you’re job hunting. In the same way some organizations value a degree from one school over another, some employers prefer candidates from programs with specific MBA accreditations.

• Is AACSB accreditation important for MBA?
  

  Graduating from an AACSB-accredited program can help students in their job searches. Though not mandatory for all employees, many organizations value this MBA accreditation more than others. Some employers may even require it.

• How do I find out if a school is MBA accredited?
  

  Many schools are accredited by several organizations, so cross-reference the school’s claims with the organization’s records to ensure that it’s accurate. The school’s website or printed information should list the national and regional organizations that grant institutional accreditation.

  Some accreditation agencies also make it possible to search for accredited institutions online. For example, you can search for  AACSB-accredited programs directly on the AACSB website.