Skip to main content
Southeast Missouri State University
Audience  Search  Menu 

You are here:

  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Accreditation: what it is and why it matters | SEMO

Accreditation: what it is and why it matters

Continue to main content
  • Take It From Us
Published: April 13, 2020

Share Options

  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Linkedin

It's a word you've heard a lot by now. But what does accreditation even mean? And why does it matter?

Why should you care about accreditation? A group of people walk toward Academic Hall.

What is accreditation?

As you’re in your college search, you’ve probably heard the word accreditation a lot. Universities are accredited. Programs are accredited. But what does that mean and does it matter if the school you’re interested in is or isn’t? Accreditation is a level of quality control. By being accredited, the institution proves that they meet specific standards of quality. The agencies responsible for accrediting institutions make sure there are sufficient resources, including faculty, facilities, and student services, to adequately meet the standards necessary to receive accreditation. 

It’s not just about the facilities. Accreditors also review the quality of teaching and coursework in a program. This lets them know whether or not the faculty have the expertise necessary in their majors, which only makes sense because you want to learn your expertise from the experts! These reviews are done by professors, provosts, and presidents of other schools.

Are there different types?

Yes! There are different types of accreditation. The two main types are institutional and specialized/programmatic. Allow us to break it down:

Institutional accreditation has two categories. The most common is regional accreditation. Most colleges and universities are regionally accredited. Think of the country as being divided into clusters of states, with each of the six regional accreditors responsible for verifying that the institutions in their states are meeting the educational standard.

There is also national accreditation under the institutional umbrella, which is more common in for-profit colleges. It is important to note that many regionally accredited colleges will not accept credits from colleges that are nationally accredited. 

The second type of accreditation is specialized or programmatic accreditation and which recognizes specific degree programs within a college or university, not the institution as a whole. The accrediting bodies review specific programs to ensure they meet the high educational standards for that major.

What does it mean for students?

So does it matter? Even if you’ve never considered accreditation in your school/program search, it’s still an important feat to stick on the “pro” side of a pro/con list. But why?

Some industries want to hire students from accredited programs. Your future employer wants to be confident in their hiring decision, so knowing that a potential employee has a quality education (like one from an accredited program or university), as well as a valuable and seasoned skillset, looks like a big gold star. 

It can impact your ability to get federal financial aid. To apply for federal student aid or loans, you must be enrolled at an accredited institution. 

Another positive to having an accredited degree comes up with the decision to pursue the next level of education. Your accredited credits have a much better chance of transferring over with you if you decide to keep going.

You have a lot of information to weigh as you make your college decision. While it probably wasn’t something on your radar, the value of accreditation should be evaluated. Not all programs have accrediting bodies. But for those who do, accreditation means an outside organization who knows what to look for has deemed this program meets certain quality standards.

Is SEMO Accredited?

Yes! The University as a whole is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission’s Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

Several programs at Southeast have also earned their accreditation. From the arts, to business, to STEM (and more!), there’s no shortage of accredited programs to choose from at SEMO.

Explore Categories

  • Why Southeast?
  • Becoming a Redhawk
  • Southeast Services
  • Conquering College
  • Your Best Years
  • Take It From Us

Site Menu

Southeast Missouri State University

Secondary

  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
  • Give

Site

  • Academics
    • Program Finder
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • Online
    • Early College Programs
    • Study Abroad
    • Research
    • Honors Program
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Admission Requirements
    • How to Apply
    • Paying for College
    • Visiting SEMO
    • Admission Events
    • Meet the Team
  • Life at SEMO
    • Living on Campus
    • Dining
    • Student Life
    • Events
    • Traditions
    • Cape Girardeau
  • Student Support
    • Academic Support
    • Career Support
    • Health & Wellness
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Financial Services
    • Dean of Students
    • Military & Veteran Services

Secondary

  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
  • Give

Quick Links

  • About
  • News
  • Southeast Online
  • Economic & Workforce Development
  • Colleges & Departments
  • Offices & Services
  • People Directory
  • Athletics
  • University Foundation
  • En Español
  • Institutional Data

Audience Links

Southeast Missouri State University

Resources for you.

  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Accepted Students
  • Counselors
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Donors
  • Community Partners

Info For:

  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Accepted Students
  • Counselors
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Donors
  • Community Partners

Current Students Resources for you

Featured Links

  • COVID Information
  • Canvas
  • mySEMO
  • Email
  • SupportNET
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory
  • People Search
  • University Closings

Academics

  • Program Finder
  • Academic Calendar
  • Academic Advising
  • Academics
  • Course Catalog
  • Register for Classes
  • Registrar
  • Help Desk
  • Kent Library

Paying for College

  • Pay My Bill
  • Financial Services
  • Student Employment
  • Financial Calendar

Student Life

  • Apply for Housing
  • Residence Hall Association
  • Student Transportation
  • Dining
  • SE Link
  • Dean of Students

Career Services

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Redhawkjobs.com
  • Resources
  • Events

Parents & Families Resources for you

Featured Links

  • COVID Information
  • Family/Parents
  • Family Weekend
  • About Southeast
  • Campus Map
  • Academic Calendar
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory

Your Student

  • Admissions
  • New Student Programs
  • Opening Week
  • Financial Services
  • Residence Life
  • Academic Support
  • Health and Wellness
  • Dean of Students
  • Department of Public Safety

Accepted Students Resources for you

Featured Links

  • COVID Information
  • Admissions
  • Camp Redhawk
  • Engage in 8
  • First Step
  • First Year Experience
  • New Student Programs
  • Textbook Rental
  • University Calendar

Academic Advising

  • Academic Calendar
  • Program Finder
  • Schedule an Appointment

Career Services

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Redhawkjobs.com

Paying for College

  • Financial Aid
  • Scholarships
  • Payments

Student Life

  • Apply for Housing
  • Residence Life
  • Dining
  • Student Orgnizations

Counselors Resources for you

Featured Links

  • COVID Information
  • Office of Admissions
  • Find My Admissions Counselor
  • Counselor Resources
  • College Planning
  • Early College Programs

Applying to SEMO

  • Admissions Requirements
  • How to Apply
  • Deadlines
  • Test Optional

Financial Aid

  • FAFSA
  • SEMO Scholarships
  • Cost and Affordability

Launching Careers

  • Academics
  • Outcomes
  • Career Services

Alumni Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Alumni Association
  • Update Your Information
  • Share Your Story
  • Employment
  • Office Directory
  • Southeast News
  • People Directory

Get Connected

  • Alumni Events
  • Campus Events
  • Show SEMO Spirit

Give Back

  • Giving to SEMO
  • Get Involved
  • Annual Fund

Faculty & Staff Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Profile Spotlight Form
  • Offices and Services
  • People Directory
  • People Search
  • mySEMO
  • Email
  • Academic Calendar
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • SupportNET
  • Kent Library
  • Human Resources
  • Training and Development
  • University Closings
  • SE Alerts
  • WebQ
  • Southeast News
  • COVID Information

Faculty Resources

  • Faculty Senate
  • Canvas
  • Center for Teaching and Learning

Staff Resources

  • Professional Staff Council
  • CTS Staff Council

Facilities

  • Work Order/Order Supplies Request
  • Central Receiving

Donors Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Giving to SEMO
  • University Foundation
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory

Making an Impact

  • Student Stories
  • Ways to Give
  • Student Emergency Fund
  • Get Involved

Connecting with SEMO

  • Alumni Association
  • Alumni Events
  • Academics
  • Redhawk Athletics

Community Partners Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Economic and Workforce Development
  • Continuing Education
  • Factbook
  • About Southeast
  • Career Services
  • University Foundation
  • University Communications
  • People Directory
  • People Search

Workforce Development

  • Small Business and Technology Development Center
  • Southeast Online
  • Regional Professional Development Center
  • Alumni Association

Community Service

  • Southeast Serves
  • Office of Campus Life
  • Office of Greek Life
  • Redhawk Athletics

Media Inquiries

  • Southeast News
  • Redhawk Sports Information
One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 651-2000
Contact Us

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Campuses

  • Cape Girardeau
  • River Campus
  • Kennett
  • Sikeston
  • Poplar Bluff

Campus Links

  • News
  • Athletics
  • Events
  • Accreditations
  • Show Me Center

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Footer

  • Employment
  • Accessibility
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sunshine Law

© 2023 SEMO