Students taking courses outside of their school environment, or as an independent learner / homeschooled student, should be very careful about selecting your coursework providers – with some universities, obtaining non-accredited coursework can impact the student’s admission process and, even limit the particular majors in which you can apply to.
While we know this already, what may need to be stressed is that this is true even for AP coursework, approved by College Board, if the course is taken from a non-accredited (or not recognized accreditation) provider.
We know homeschoolers will usually need to take more tests like the APs and Subject Exams, but for a senior taking an AP Course from a non-accredited provider, they will not have the benefit of the AP Exam Score prior to applying for admissions.
As more providers crop up initially without preferred accreditations, they may think and tell their students / families that because the coursework is AP - College Board approved, the accreditation does not matter. But, in fact, students need to know that recognizable accreditations or lack of them, can impact their college lists and they should plan accordingly.
If a school is awarded accreditation, it means that the institution meets certain standards of educational quality. The most widely accepted institutional accrediting bodies in the United States are six regional agencies:
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
- North Central Association (NCA)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)