Accreditation Resources

After World War II, there was a large influx of students into universities, which resulted in the establishment of new universities all over the country.  Because the reputation of some of these institutions was extremely suspect, the U.S. Department of Education began to step up its peer review process, similar to that used in academic journals, so that universities were held accountable for certain minimal standards by a third party and, ideally, neutral organization.  Institutions that meet these standards are accredited.  Accreditation has been around for over a century, but gained vital importance mid-century.  A similar phenomenon to what happened during the late 40s and early 50s is occurring today with the rise of online colleges.  Fortunately, almost every reputable online MBA program in the U.S. is accredited by one of three associations:

Each of these organizations is explored here, as are some of the most notable online MBA programs that count themselves as members.  The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business focuses on institutions that offer 4-year and advanced degrees and offers several broad requirements for the inclusion of a university’s business program as a member, including a formal system for reviewing the ethical standards of the student body, as well as faculty and administration, a commitment to diversity (cultural, racial, class, gender, etc.), and willingness to undergo periodic review by the association.  Some of the online MBA programs that meet this standard and are members include:

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs was established in 1988 to ensure the equal devotion to research and education in hundreds of business schools.  The council’s special emphasis on teaching differentiates it from other accrediting organizations.  The Department of Education officially recognized the ACBSP in 1992 and today some of the ACBSP’s best-known online MBA programs are:

  • American InterContinental University School of Business, which offers an online MBA program in 10 different concentrations, which include accounting, finance, healthcare management, international business, and marketing.  Courses in accounting information systems, leadership, ethics, and management are the norm.
  • Walden University’s Master of Business Administration’s program, which can be self-designed (requiring courses in human resources, corporate finance, and hands-on field study) or combined with a traditional specialization: leadership, risk management, entrepreneurship, and so on.  All of the programs require between 36 and 37 semester hours, the bulk of which are core courses.

The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, rather than supplying its member institutions with specific regulations, assesses their quality on output: the success of the students in business endeavors.  In particular, universities are judged on their development of creative thinking among their graduates, their emphasis on ethics, the correspondence between classwork and real business practice, the professionalism of the faculty (as measured by credentials), and so on.  The assembly accredits the following online MBA programs: