Accreditation procedures for photography colleges are very similar to other college and degree accreditations. Photography institutions that achieve accreditation generally show evidence of assembly and application of resources, appropriate educational purposes, good strategies to attain those educational purposes, a strong record of achieving said purposes, and evidence that all the above-listed characteristics can and will continue to be demonstrated by the college and, specifically, by the photography program.
The standards set by accrediting associations for photography colleges and programs are not universal, except in that they require educational quality from member institutions. Though individual markers of educational quality, instruction styles, and college education philosophies may vary, each accredited school has met or exceeded the minimum standards set forth by the accrediting association. This ensures that all accredited schools can offer you a solid, quality education in photography.
Photography schools can be accredited nationally, regionally, or programmatically. Regional and national accreditation is granted to entire schools after they have satisfactorily met or exceeded the standards set by the association. Regional and national accreditation is only granted after a long, thorough review of every program in a college. Most photography programs are programmatically accredited, which means that while the entire school is not accredited, the photography program has undergone a review and met the standards of the association. Although regional and national accreditation can make some processes easier, such as transferring credits and accessing federal funding, accreditation types are typically equal in the eyes of employers.
Accreditation is granted by non-profit, private agencies not affiliated with the government. All accrediting agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. The main programmatic accrediting agency for photography schools is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The six regional and national accrediting associations each grant accreditation in specific areas of the United States: for example, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits photography schools in the southern states.