Post Secondary Education

Updated: March 24, 2010 by American Center

The United States is different from many countries of the world in that it does not have a national system of post-secondary, or "higher" education. U.S. states have the power to license institutions, but they neither accredit nor guarantee the quality of these schools. Instead, the system of accreditation in the United States is operated by private, nonprofit organizations. The institution or program that you choose should be accredited by an accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a "reliable authority as to the quality of postsecondary education" within the meaning of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and its amendments.

For information about accredited higher education institutions and programs, you can check the following U.S. Department of Education website: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/