Accredited Institution

Date of Publication:

5/29/2014

Definition:

A school or program that:

• Admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such certificate, such as a General Education Development examination.
• Is legally authorized within a State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education.
• Provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor’s degree or provides not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable toward such a degree, or provides an educational program for which it awards a master’s or doctoral degree.
• Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.

This definition includes any foreign institution of higher education that DOD or its designee determines meets substantially equivalent requirements.