What is WASC Accreditation? Why Does It Matter? 

Accreditation is a key factor when choosing a university. It ensures your degree is recognized and meets academic standards.  

As of February 2025, University of the People is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), a respected regional accrediting body. This regional accreditation was earned thanks to the hard work of our faculty, staff, learners, and leadership. WASC accreditation means increased credibility for our learners in the global market. This landmark achievement speaks for our strong commitment to providing quality higher education to our learners worldwide. 

Nationally, UoPeople is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. DEAC specializes in distance education, meaning UoPeople has been evaluated for the quality of its online programs, faculty qualifications, and student support services.  

As a fully online, tuition-free American institution accredited by two different bodies, it has always been UoPeople’s aim to give learners enhanced academic and professional opportunities that can help them accomplish their goals, no matter their personal circumstances. Being both regionally and nationally accredited means UoPeople students benefit from greater recognition of their degrees by employers and other institutions, making it easier to transfer credits or pursue advanced degrees.  

In this article, we will take a deep dive into understanding accreditation for US-based colleges and universities, how regional accreditation compares to national accreditation, and the mechanisms of WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), a regional accrediting body in the country.    

What is Accreditation  

An accredited university is a higher education institution that has been evaluated by an official accrediting agency and meets certain standards in areas like curriculum, faculty qualifications, student services, as well as financial and operational integrity. Accreditation ensures that the university provides a quality education and that its degrees are recognized by employers, other universities, and professional licensing boards. 

In most countries, governments or independent accrediting bodies review universities to make sure they offer rigorous programs, qualified faculty, and proper student support services. This process helps protect students from scams and degrees with no real value, making it more likely that employers and other institutions can trust the degree.  

In the US, accreditation is a completely voluntary step taken by institutions to signal their commitment to high academic standards and continual improvement. Reviewing bodies are typically comprised of peer institutions, helping to democratize best practices and processes among universities that share the same accreditation.  

Accreditation plays a key role in determining a university’s legitimacy, ensuring that it meets certain academic and quality standards. Think of it as a seal of approval that confirms an institution provides a recognized, high-quality education.  

Regional Vs National Accreditation  

In the United States, regional accreditation is the most widely recognized type of accreditation an institution can earn, awarded by accrediting bodies that oversee different regions of the U.S. Six regional accrediting agencies in the US are responsible for state-run or non-profit colleges and universities. WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is one such regional agency.  

Most public and private universities, private colleges, and community colleges pursue regional accreditation because its standards are high, meaning employers and other universities trust these degrees more. That’s great news if you’re thinking about transferring colleges or going for a master’s or Ph.D.—most regionally accredited institutions accept each other’s credits without an issue, but it’s always a good idea to confirm directly with the University you’re seeking to transfer to, as individual policies may vary. Another big plus is financial aid. Federal grants and loans are usually available to students at regionally accredited institutions, and you might be eligible for more scholarship opportunities, too. 

National accreditation agencies review and recognize institutions aimed at serving students from all over the U.S. These are typically more specialized in focus, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), which oversees vocational and technical schools, or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which evaluates online institutions, like UoPeople. The DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Important to note, is that there is no legal distinction between national and regional accreditation; both are equally valid measures of an institution’s ability to meet academic standards and grant degrees to their graduates.  

What is WASC?  

The WASC Senior College & University Commission (WSCUC) came into being in 2012-13, resulting from the separation of three previously combined education commissions under the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). They’re now known as autonomous organizations with their own governance, but all three commonly use the WASC acronym. WASC itself dates back to 1962, aiming to enhance and oversee higher education in the western U.S. It built upon the work of the older Western College Association (Southern California Conference of College and Universities), which originated from a 1924 initiative to bring together colleges in Southern California. Over the years, these organizations have evolved, focusing on accreditation and quality in education. 

Simply put, WSCUC is a regional accrediting agency charged with reviewing and evaluating institutions that award undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is recognized as an institutional accrediting agency, and reviewed periodically for renewal, by the US Department of Education. 

WASC Mission and Values  

As a regional accrediting body, WSCUC focuses on real progress by prioritizing equity and inclusion to improve outcomes for learners and institutions in higher education. They are leaders in evaluating relevant evidence related to student achievement and institutional performance, endorsing the idea that “Better Conversations, Better Data” can pave the way for overall improvement. Furthermore, WSCUC is dedicated to accrediting and supporting educational institutions in championing their strong values of equity, evidence-based practices, and innovation. 

While evaluating institutions, WSCUC attempts to meet current standards around quality and student success while ensuring institutional financial sustainability. They focus on professional development and programs to help institutions reach their strategic goals. WSCUC also aims to use its leadership to shape policies around accreditation and the value of education on a global scale. They work towards establishing clearer accreditation guidelines to support their goals. Additionally, they emphasize governance, promoting equitable and effective educational practices.

Why Does WASC Accreditation Matter?  

WASC accreditation places colleges among a distinguished group reinforcing their status as a high-quality academic institution. This recognition affirms the university’s instructional quality and internal processes meet the top-tier standards in higher education. Being WASC accredited implies the institution reflects the following: 

Quality 

Earning WASC accreditation places you in a prestigious group of other American accredited institutions such as Stanford and UC Berkeley. It signals adherence to the same rigorous standards as these world-renowned universities.   

Commitment to Improvement  

When a school or university is voluntarily opting for a tough evaluation process, it reinforces learners’ trust in them. It also means the institution believes in self-evaluation and improvement.  

Academic Opportunity 

It means students and alumni can more easily transfer or pursue advanced degrees. Regional recognition makes it much easier for students to transfer their credits to other English-speaking colleges, which is important for them to advance their education without losing any progress on their degrees.   

Professional opportunity 

Since regional accreditation is more widely recognized and respected by potential employers, it benefits alumni forging their career paths in various fields.    

NOW is the Right Time to Join UoPeople 

As a non-profit, tuition-free American, accredited university, UoPeople is committed to continual improvement and to delivering incredible value to its learners around the world. A recent independent economic report found that the return on investment (ROI) for a bachelor’s degree earned at UoPeople is 30 times higher than the average cost of earning a bachelor’s degree in the U.S. … and that was even before WASC accreditation!  

If you are looking to advance your career and earn an education that’s fully online offering great flexibility, there has never been a better time to join UoPeople.