Student FAQs: What is NECHE Accreditation?
1. Understanding NECHE and Accreditation
Q: What is NECHE?
A: NECHE stands for the New England Commission of Higher Education. We’re an independent, nonprofit organization that evaluates colleges and universities to make sure they meet high Standards of quality in education, resources, and student support. We are guided by our Standards for Accreditation.
Q: What does “accreditation” mean?
A: Accreditation is a quality check. It’s a process where an outside organization—like NECHE—reviews a school to confirm it provides a solid education, has qualified faculty and staff, adequate resources, and supports student success.
Q: How is NECHE different from other accrediting bodies?
A: NECHE is an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. We focus on colleges and universities primarily in New England (although we also accredit numerous institutions in other states as well as abroad). As an institutional accreditor, NECHE’s Standards and reviews encompass all aspects of educational quality (all programs, all students, all modalities) while specialized accreditation is exclusively focused on specific disciplines, like engineering, business, nursing, or law.
Q: What types of institutions does NECHE accredit?
A: We accredit public and private colleges and universities—both large and small, liberal arts and technical, non-profit and for-profit, on-campus and online, domestic and international. NECHE institutions range from very small colleges which only offer one academic program to comprehensive, complex institutions offering a myriad of degree programs, levels, and modalities at multiple campuses.
2. Why Accreditation Matters
Q: Why should students care if a school is accredited?
A: Accreditation means the school has been evaluated for quality and accountability on a periodic basis by a selective group of peers. It shows the school is serious about continuous improvement as well as providing you with a valuable education.
Q: What does NECHE accreditation say about the quality of a school?
A: It means the school meets all of NECHE’s Standards for Accreditation—covering everything from academics to financial stability, governance, and student services.
Q: Does accreditation affect my future job prospects or graduate school applications?
A: Yes. Many employers and graduate programs require a degree from an accredited institution. Accredited institutions will have their current accreditor and accreditation status published on their webpage.
Q: Does NECHE accreditation affect my financial aid eligibility?
A: Yes. Federal financial aid is generally available only to students at schools accredited by a recognized agency like NECHE.
Q: How does NECHE accreditation impact transfer credits?
A: Many colleges will only accept transfer credits from accredited institutions, so accreditation can make moving between schools easier.
3. How NECHE Accreditation Works
Q: What are the Standards for Accreditation?
A: These cover nine areas, including the school’s mission, academic programs, student services, faculty qualifications, finances, and planning. Every ten years we revise our Standards for Accreditation to ensure that they are current, relevant, and insightful. In July 2026, our revised Standards will take effect.
Q: How does NECHE decide if a school should be accredited?
A: Every 10 years, NECHE reviews a comprehensive report that the institution writes. NECHE also sends a team of evaluators to visit the campus; meet with faculty, staff, and students; and ensure that the institution continues to meet NECHE’s Standards for Accreditation. Within each 10-year cycle, NECHE also monitors our institutions with interim reports halfway through the 10-year cycle as well as reviews scheduled in response to significant changes at our institutions.
4. Student Involvement
Q: Can students participate in the accreditation process?
A: Yes! Current students can meet with NECHE visiting teams during a comprehensive evaluation to share their perspectives during “open forums” which are confidential and voluntary. Your voice is important in the review process and we encourage all of our schools to strongly encourage student participation. Public comments regarding an individual’s experiences and observations, positive or negative, about the quality of a member institution and its programs may also be submitted at a time other than an institution’s comprehensive evaluation. For guidance on filing a public comment, please review our Policy and Procedures for Public Comments or email info@neche.org.
5. How to File a Complaint with NECHE
If you have a serious concern about your college that you believe shows it’s not meeting NECHE’s Standards for Accreditation, you can let NECHE know through our complaints process.
What kinds of complaints does NECHE review?
NECHE considers complaints related to institutional quality and allegations that an institution may be out of compliance with the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. It does not handle things like grade disputes, admissions decisions, or personal conflicts with faculty or staff.
Q: What to do first?
A: 1. Try to resolve the problem through your college’s published complaint or grievance process.
2. Keep records of what happened and any steps you’ve already taken.
Q: How to file a complaint with NECHE?
A: 1. Please review our Policy and Procedures for the Consideration of Complaints Against Affiliated Institutions as well as our Standards for Accreditation to ensure that your complaint or grievance falls within our purview.
2. Complete the Complaint Form and make sure you complete all prompts, include documentation, and certify
with your name and signature at the end of the form before mailing.
3. For further information, please review our FAQ page on complaints.
Q: What happens next?
A: 1. NECHE will confirm receipt of your complaint and let you know if it is something we can review.
2. If it is, we’ll look into it and let you know the outcome.
6. Getting More Information
Q: Where can I verify a school’s NECHE accreditation?
A: Check our official NECHE Roster of Institutions for up-to-date information.
Q: Who can I contact with questions or concerns about accreditation?
A: You can email NECHE at info@neche.org or call our main office (781-425-7785) for assistance.
