Accreditation is an important factor to consider as you search for an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. You should not only verify a program’s accreditation status but also that the accreditation a program holds is from a reputable accrediting agency.
Students in institutions with nationally recognized accreditation have access to federal financial aid opportunities. Furthermore, some employers prefer or will only consider candidates with MBA degrees from accredited schools. Ensuring you find an accredited institution like Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) gives you confidence that your degree program is of high quality and respected.
What Is Accreditation?
According to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), accreditation ensures established quality standards for higher education, with the accrediting bodies defining and enforcing the standards. Educational institutions can receive institutional or programmatic accreditation from accrediting agencies like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International, or simply AACSB).
The accreditation process is voluntary. Higher education institutions opt to undergo the thorough evaluation required for accreditation to validate the quality of their degree programs. The DOE does not set the operating standards for degree programs, but they do recognize both programmatic and institutional or regional accrediting bodies.
DOE recognition for institutional/regional accrediting bodies allows schools (and students enrolled in schools) with accreditation from those agencies to receive federal financial aid. Accrediting bodies set the standards and evaluate institutions based on those standards.
What Accreditation Should I Look for in an Online MBA Program?
AACSB is one of the best-known accrediting bodies for business schools globally. Since 1916, AACSB has been setting the standards for business education. It evaluates business programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Only about 6% of the world’s business schools have AACSB accreditation, ensuring those schools meet the highest standards for quality, continuous improvement, societal impact and more. Plus, AACSB sought and earned ISO 9001:2015 certification, demonstrating the integrity of AACSB’s own quality management system.
Earning AACSB accreditation is not an easy process, evidenced by the small percentage of schools globally that undergo and receive accreditation. Fortunately, the business programs at TAMIU’s A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business hold AACSB accreditation and provide MBA seekers with affordable, online options.
Top employers and universities recognize AACSB-accredited schools for their high standards. AACSB’s rigorous accreditation process assesses an institution through benchmarks for research, curriculum development, teaching, student learning and impact. AACSB outlines its comprehensive business accreditation standards on its website, granting accreditation to both online and on-campus programs.
What Happens if You Attend an MBA Program That Is not Accredited?
Schools that lack accreditation either fell short of the standards or did not seek accreditation in the first place. Employers want to hire candidates whose knowledge meets standards deemed rigorous industrywide. Therefore, students with a degree from an unaccredited institution may struggle to find a job.
Moreover, attending an accredited institution makes it easier for students to transfer to another program should the need arise. An accredited MBA program may not accept credits from an institution that lacks accreditation, which could limit a student’s options down the road.
Plus, as mentioned earlier, accreditation is essential for federal financial aid opportunities. As an institution, TAMIU is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The DOE and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation both recognize SACSCOC, demonstrating the accrediting body’s high standards and ensuring students at SACSCOC-accredited schools have access to financial aid opportunities.
Searching for accredited MBA programs and institutions also helps students avoid diploma mills that grant degrees and certificates for a fee to students who complete little to no coursework. A diploma mill cannot secure accreditation from AACSB or any other recognized accrediting body.
When you choose an accredited institution for your MBA, you can be sure of receiving a first-rate business education that employers respect.
Learn more about TAMIU’s online MBA programs.
