School accreditation is the most important factor to consider when deciding on an online MBA program. Proper accreditation could mean the difference between an online MBA degree that gets you a promotion and a degree that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

The purpose of the accreditation process is to ensure that the universities offering MBA programs are operating at a reasonable quality level. It is a common notion that colleges and universities with MBA accreditation are far more popular than others. MBA accreditation is important since it judges the quality of the institute. Be it the quality of education or the infrastructure of the colleges, accreditation ensures that the respective B -Schools are a perfect base for studying MBA.

Accreditation bodies exist specifically for MBA programs to ensure consistency and quality of graduate business education, and business schools in many countries offer MBA programs tailored to full-time, part-time, executive, and distance learning students, with specialized concentrations.

Why MBA Accreditation
The main purpose of accreditation is to ensure the good standard of a particular business school. By opting for good accredited B-Schools, students can experience excellent teaching system by highly qualified faculty. It is through accreditation that you can decide the quality of the students the college accept and the faculty they employ. You will find it easy to assess the teaching techniques and the range of specialties the institutions has to offer. If you want to opt for higher studies in management, then a MBA degree from an accredited school will be helpful. The recruiters prefer to employ students from the B-Schools as they get an assurance of quality.

MBA Accreditation is Important

Accredited MBA schools can be more selective in the teachers that they hire, the students they enroll, the courses they teach and the curriculum that they follow. Accreditation ensures that your teachers are among the best and brightest in their field and that you will learn useful information that is relevant in today’s business world.

However, boosting your employability isn’t the only benefit of attending an accredited MBA school. If you decide to further your education with a PhD, many programs require that you receive your MBA from an accredited program. Financing your education will also be easier if you attend an accredited school, since most financial aid programs will offer assistance only to students of accredited MBA programs.

Factors considered before granting MBA Accreditation

There are various factors which are taken into consideration before a B -School gets the MBA Accreditation:

* The Institution- The accreditation agencies examine whether the institution have a clear strategy and understanding of the market. They take into account if there is continuity in the institution and can operate independently.
* Students – An institute must have a strict admission standard and it should consider both the academic criteria and work experience.
* Curriculum – It is to be noted that an accredited institute will have a comprehensive curriculum which covers main business skills like marketing, accounting and quantitative methods, finance and organizational theory. The school curriculum must have emphasis on the international aspect of business, and interpersonal skills of management.
* Faculty – Before declaring any B- School as an accredited one, the agencies find out if the school has enough faculties. Moreover, the teachers should have commendable academic qualifications. At least 75% of faculty should have a Masters or Doctoral degree in the subjects they are teaching.
* Culture in campus – The infrastructure and the campus environment of the college must reflect a sense of decorum among the students and the teachers.
* Placement Opportunity – The quality of campus recruitment and the type of recruiters employing the students are taken into account prior to the granting of MBA accreditation.

MBA accreditation agencies

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is one of the major MBA accreditation agencies. It was founded in 1916 and it grants accreditation to the B-Schools all over the world. It has accredited 554 institutions worldwide.

Association of MBAs (AMBA)
This UK based agency was in operation from 1980s and it has presently accredited MBA programmes at more than 140 B- Schools around the world.

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) of the US was founded in 1988. Its accreditation process is focused on teaching and learning business programs. It has already accredited 406 business institutions. The agency is trusted by the employers in the field of business.

Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is a large accrediting agency, which accredits the distance learning colleges. This is comparatively a newer agency and its accreditation is considered quite important.

MBA Accreditation in US
In the U.S., accreditation comes from private groups rather than the government. Here are some trusted accrediting agencies:

* Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – National
* Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) – National
* Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia
* Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) – Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
* Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) – California, Hawaii and the Pacific Basin
* New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE) – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont
* North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC) – Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming
* Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS) – Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah Washington

Campus vs. Online MBA Accreditation

AACSB, perhaps the most widely known and respected MBA accrediting agency, focuses mainly on campus accreditation. However, they also do some online accreditation. According to AACSB, only 30 percent of MBA programs receive their accreditation.

Online programs are mostly accredited by regional accrediting agencies. The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is the largest accrediting agency of online programs; however, it also has the least significance of the MBA accrediting agencies. Online programs with regional or AACSB accreditation are preferable.

Do your research, and make sure that your MBA program is accredited either regionally or nationally. Beware of online programs with no accreditation, as some are little more than diploma mills, meaning they offer diplomas for little to no course work or effort on the student’s part. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Invest in Your Future with an Accredited MBA Program

Researching MBA accreditation is an important step in choosing the right program. Otherwise, you may end up wasting valuable time and money. Graduating from an accredited MBA program will give both you and your future employers the assurance that you’ve gained the knowledge and skills to become a vital part of the workforce.