What To Look For in A College

[ucbalumnus]

<p>

@InigoMontoya

there are some unaccredited colleges out there, usually either new schools or small, conservative, religious schools, or for-profit schools. Federal financial aid is not available at unaccredited schools. Accreditation matters more for certain majors. Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science - all have boards that are responsible for accreditation of the individual major within the college.

</p>

<p>Note that there is accreditation for the school, and accreditation for some (not all) majors. In the US, look for regional accreditation for the school as a whole.</p>

<p>Only some majors have major-specific accreditation:</p>

<ul>
<li>Engineering and engineering technology: ABET</li>
<li>Business and accounting: AACSB</li>
<li>Chemistry: ACS</li>
<li>Architecture: NAAB</li>
<li>Computer science: ABET (not especially important per se, except for the patent exam, but non-accredited programs may need to be scrutinized more carefully for suitability)</li>
</ul>