Course Catalog / BMU 104 / Lesson 2 of 5
BMU 104
Lesson 2: Is it accredited? Check before you trust
Quick review
1. What four things go on your needs list?
See the answer
Goal, credential, license, and format.
2. Who should you ask about a license?
See the answer
Your state's licensing board.
Why this matters
Accreditation means an approved group reviewed the school. The FTC says it matters for two big reasons. Credits from a school that is not accredited are hard to transfer. And you can only get federal student aid at an accredited school.
Some fake schools make up an accreditor or lie about having one. In this lesson you will check for yourself.
Start with what you already do
You already check before you trust. You look for a license on a contractor or a seal on food.
Common belief: If a school says it is accredited, it is.
What is actually true: The FTC warns that some fake programs make up an accreditor, and some accreditors are not recognized. Check the school and the accreditor on official lists.
In this lesson you will
- Look up a school's accreditation on an official list
- Check that the accreditor is recognized
- Ask about accreditation for your program and transfer
Key words
- accreditation
- A review by an outside group that shows a school meets standards.
- accreditor
- The group that does the review.
- recognized
- Approved by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA.
Three checks
- Look up the school. Use the Department of Education's DAPIP database, College Navigator, or the CHEA search.
- Check the accreditor. Make sure it is listed by the Department of Education or CHEA.
- Ask the people who matter. Ask employers and any school you may transfer to if they accept credits or credentials from this school.
Text version of this figure
Is it accredited?. Three checks, then decide.
- Step 1, Look up the school: DAPIP, College Navigator, or CHEA.
- Step 2, Check the accreditor: Is it on the Education Department or CHEA list?
- Step 3, Ask employers and schools: Will they accept this credential or these credits?
- Red flag: No listing, a made up accreditor, or credits no one accepts.
- Keep the school on your list: Only if all three checks pass.
Source: FTC, Choosing a College; ED DAPIP; CHEA (Oct 29, 2026).
Program accreditation
Some fields, like nursing, law, or engineering, may need a program accredited by a special group, not just the school. MilitaryConsumer.gov notes this. Check what your field and your state board require.
Transfer and accreditation type
MilitaryConsumer.gov says some schools may not accept credits from a school with national accreditation. If you might transfer later, ask the school you might transfer to before you enroll.
Worked example: Carl checks Pine Valley Tech
Carl got a call from Pine Valley Tech. The recruiter says it is fully accredited.
- He searches DAPIP. Pine Valley Tech is not listed.
- He searches the accreditor name the recruiter gave. It is not on the Education Department or CHEA list.
- He calls the community college he may transfer to. They say they would not accept those credits.
He crosses it off. Pine Valley Tech and Carl are made up examples.
Practice: Pass or fail
- Lake College is on DAPIP. Its accreditor is on the Education Department list. The state university says it accepts its credits.
- Summit Institute's website names the Global Board of Career Schools. You cannot find that board on the Education Department or CHEA list.
- Ridge College is accredited. Rosa wants to be a nurse, but its nursing program is not on the state board's approved list.
Mark each school pass or fail for Rosa, and give the reason.
Check your practice: feedback
- Pass. The school, the accreditor, and the transfer answer all check out.
- Fail. An accreditor that is not recognized is a red flag, even if the name sounds official.
- Fail for Rosa. The school is fine, but the program does not meet the board's rules, so she could not get her license.
Common mistakes
- Trusting the word accredited on a website. Look it up yourself.
- Checking the school but not the accreditor. Check both.
- Skipping the transfer question. Ask the next school before you enroll.
Try it: Check one school
Pick your scenario:
- A school I already like
- A school that contacted me
- A community college near me
- Pick one school from your choices.
- Look it up in DAPIP or College Navigator.
- Write the accreditor's name and check it is recognized.
- If your field needs it, check program accreditation.
- Mark the school pass or fail on your needs list.
Do it by: this week
Reflect
How would you feel if credits you paid for did not transfer? What will you ask before you enroll?
Check your understanding
1. A school's website says accredited. What is your next step?
- Look it up in DAPIP or CHEA.
- Trust it and enroll.
- Ask the recruiter again.
See the answer and feedback
A is correct. Yes. Check on an official list.
B: Some fake schools lie. Review Three checks.
C: The recruiter is not a neutral source. Review Three checks.
2. Why does accreditation matter for money?
- It caps what tuition can be.
- Federal aid needs it.
- It makes loans interest free.
See the answer and feedback
B is correct. Yes. Federal student aid is only for accredited schools.
A: It does not set price. Review Why this matters.
C: Federal loans still charge interest. Review Why this matters.
3. Ray wants to become a nurse. What else should he check?
- The school's job placement ads
- How close the campus is
- Program accreditation and the state board
See the answer and feedback
C is correct. Yes. Some fields need program accreditation.
A: Ads are not proof. Review Program accreditation.
B: Distance matters, but nursing also needs program accreditation. Review Program accreditation.
Takeaway: Check it yourself
- Look up the school on DAPIP, College Navigator, or CHEA.
- Check that the accreditor is recognized.
- For licensed fields, check the program too.
- Ask the next school about transfer before you enroll.
Recap
- Accreditation affects transfer credit and federal aid.
- Look up the school and the accreditor on official lists.
- Some fields need program accreditation.
- Ask employers and the next school before you enroll.
You now have: schools on your list marked pass or fail for accreditation.
Next up
Next you will find what a school will really cost you. Go to Lesson 3: Find the real cost.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Advice: Choosing a College: Questions To Ask (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- MilitaryConsumer.gov: Choosing a College or Technical School (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Education: Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP) (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- NCES: College Navigator (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA): Search institutions (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
