Easiest States for College Accreditation - How to Find Them?

I've been following some debates online about college accreditation. Can somebody explain which states are easiest for colleges to gain accreditation? Also, how might this information influence my college decision process?

Accreditation isn't awarded on a state-by-state basis, but rather, it's a national process carried out by independent accrediting bodies. These organizations come in two forms: regional accrediting bodies and national accrediting bodies. Regional bodies, such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education or the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, are usually considered more prestigious and are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

National accrediting bodies are often industry-specific or vocational. For instance, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredits nursing programs specifically. While these accreditations might be less general, they are highly valued in their respective industries.

The process for accrediting a college involves a thorough review of the school's resources, faculty, curriculum, student services, and more. The accrediting body identifies whether the school meets a set of established standards and, once approved, continues to monitor the school to ensure that it maintains these standards.

Given this, there is not an "easiest" state for colleges to gain accreditation. The process is fairly rigorous and is conducted by these independent bodies that operate nationally.

As for how this plays into your decision-making process, accreditation is extremely important. Only accredited colleges or universities are eligible to distribute federal financial aid. Furthermore, transferring credits from an unaccredited school can be difficult since many accredited schools do not accept credit from unaccredited institutions. Lastly, some graduate programs may not accept students who have completed their undergraduate degrees at unaccredited institutions.

While there's a chance some colleges might strive to meet the bare minimum criteria for accreditation, you're better off focusing on factors like the quality of the academic program you're interested in, the campus culture, financial aid options, and so on. These variables will likely have a more significant impact on your college experience.