The Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC) includes seven federally-recognized accrediting commissions that are responsible for accrediting approximately 3,000 postsecondary, degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States, as well as internationally. Accrediting commissions are private, nonprofit organizations. The commissions and visiting teams at the heart of the accrediting enterprise are made up of volunteers, and at least one of every seven commissioners is a representative of the public.

 

For more than 100 years, accreditation has served U.S. higher education through external review to assure quality and spur improvement. Accreditors, together with the federal government and states, form a triad charged with shared accountability for ensuring that students attending these institutions benefit from quality educational opportunities. The public can feel confident that the colleges and universities accredited by C-RAC members are held accountable for student outcomes, responsible governance, and continuous improvement.