You may have read about the importance of earning your MBA from an accredited institution, but do you know exactly what that means? Accreditation is confusing and can be overwhelming with the use of acronyms and comparisons. Let’s breakdown accreditation in an easy way to understand, beginning with the accreditation of the university down to the MBA program itself.
University Accreditation:
Universities in the US are accredited by Department of Education approved accrediting bodies. There are six regional accreditation organizations in the U.S.:
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Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
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New England Association of Schools and Colleges
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North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
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Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
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Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
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Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Within their respective regions, these groups grant accreditation to educational institutions that meet nationwide standards for overall rigor and quality. A peer review visit and investigation of the general practices of the entire university is conducted to ensure that the accreditation is renewed.
Program Accreditation:
In addition to the university accreditation, programs within a university can apply for a specific accreditation of their individual programs. Program accreditation is also based on a peer review process, and is provided by accrediting agencies that are generally narrow in scope or vocational in nature. This added accreditation gives the student peace of mind that a separate review of a program has been conducted and that the program has been found to meet specific national and/or global standards.
The two authorities on global accreditation for business schools are AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and ACBSP (Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs). The AACSB accredits institutions with a research focus. The research focus would be ideal if you want to earn an MBA from a faculty focused on research projects, publishing and if your future includes plans to conduct research. ACBSP accredits institutions whose primary focus is teaching. ACBSP’s student-centered teaching and learning approach, which is measured and analyzed for quality, will ensure that you gain the right skills from your educational investment. Both are recognized worldwide.
MBA Accreditation:
An individually accredited business school in turn offers an accredited MBA program. This means when the accrediting body reviewed the school of business, they also inspected the MBA program to ensure that the MBA faculty is highly qualified in their field and that you will learn useful information that is relevant in today's business world.
The University of Indianapolis is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The UIndy School of Business has been accredited by ACBSP because of the focus on teaching rather than research. UIndy School of Business is a member of the AACSB, meaning that the faculty can continue to focus on the students in class rather than research projects. However, they will have access to AACSB conferences and seminars which provide global professional development opportunities for business school administrators and faculty, publications that provide insight into the business education industry, and access to extensive global data and corresponding reports related to business school.
What This Means to You:
You can get your MBA from a university with basic regional accreditation, or you can add some weight to your credentials and earn an MBA from a university that has a global accreditation. In this competitive workforce, employers look for MBA graduates with high expectations. Wouldn't you prefer to invest in a program that has been closely reviewed to give yourself the advantage of a program that will prepare you for what the workforce expects?
The University of Indianapolis MBA Program, the oldest MBA program in the city, takes accreditation seriously. Teaching, not research, is what our award winning faculty focus on everyday. Our accredited school of business creates such an environment for them because of the UIndy dedication to teaching. Our MBA faculty has, on average, 10-12 years of experience in the field in which they teach. You are learning from experience that chooses to be in the classroom and meet the high standards of the ACBSP review.
You would not invest your money with an institution that doesn't have the highest credentials and is federally inspected and insured. Why trust the future of your career to an MBA program that hasn't been individually inspected and found worthy of a global accreditation? Go beyond university accreditation and look for an MBA program from an accredited business school.