The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) is one of the most well known accrediting agencies in the United States and was first organized in 1912. The ACICS has been recognized by the United States Department of Education since 1956 and is currently recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The ACICS is also a national accrediting agency that evaluates and grants accreditation to private postsecondary colleges and universities only. Institutions that are accredited by the ACICS can award degrees at varying levels, from the certificate level to master’s degrees, depending on the school’s abilities. Besides only being able to grant accreditation to private schools, the ACICS is also limited to granting accreditation to institutions with programs that focus on technical and occupational training. This accreditation serves to help students find postsecondary education options that will train them to become knowledgeable, capable members of the workforce, help employers understand tuition reimbursement standards for their employees and their schools, make sure students are prepared to take certification exams, and help schools discover if they are eligible for federal student assistance.

On its website, the ACICS lists all of the postsecondary institutions that it has accredited, including online and distance education institutions. There are over 680 U.S. institutions on the list, and prospective students can search by state to verify a school’s status. In addition to the schools located in the United States, the ACICS has also granted accreditation to several institutions in other countries like Switzerland, Turkey, Ireland, France, England and Spain.