If a college is approved by a recognized accreditor, it can receive federal money, such as student loan payments or Pell Grants. “We are evaluating all of our options and how best to serve our institutions, including any decision to appeal the Deputy Secretary’s decision in federal district court,” the statement said.Īccrediting agencies serve as gatekeepers for the federal government, vouching for the legitimacy and quality of colleges. In a statement posted on its website, ACICS said it was disappointed by the decision.
The Education Department began another review of ACICS, and on Friday announced that Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten had denied the accreditor’s final appeal.Īt one time, ACICS accredited more than 240 institutions that, in 2015, received a combined $4.76 billion in federal aid and enrolled more than 600,000 students. In 2020, an investigation by USA Today showed the group had approved a college in South Dakota that lacked evidence of students or faculty. The accreditor’s reprieve was short-lived. But Betsy DeVos, education secretary under President Donald Trump, restored federal recognition of the agency. Multiple high-profile colleges approved by the agency had misled students about job placement rates, and ACICS hadn’t fulfilled its watchdog role, the Education Department determined.
The department’s action is the culmination of a years-long effort to put ACICS out of business that began under the Obama administration. Department officials did not provide the names of the schools. Twenty-seven colleges will be affected, Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal said Friday, although three already are in discussions with other agencies.
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