Where accreditation DOES matter:
* Licensure and Certification: Many professions require licensure or certification for legal practice. These licensing boards often mandate graduation from an accredited institution. Without accreditation, your degree might not qualify you for the necessary exams or licenses, limiting your career options. This is especially crucial in fields like medicine, law, engineering, nursing, and education.
* Graduate School Admission: Top-tier graduate programs heavily favor applicants from accredited undergraduate institutions. Accreditation signifies a baseline of quality education, making your application more competitive.
* Employer Recognition and Hiring: Some employers, particularly large corporations or government agencies, prefer or require candidates to have degrees from accredited institutions. This is less common in some fields but can be a significant factor in others. It signals a certain level of educational rigor and standardization.
* Transferability of Credits: If you plan to pursue further education, credits from an accredited institution are more likely to transfer to another accredited institution without issues.
* Loan Eligibility: Some student loan programs may only be available to students attending accredited institutions.
Where accreditation matters LESS:
* Self-Employment: If you plan to work independently or start your own business, the importance of accreditation might be diminished, depending on your field. Your skills and experience could outweigh the accreditation of your college.
* Certain Industries: Some industries are less stringent about accreditation. The specific requirements vary widely.
In short: While you can't retroactively get your degree accredited, the accreditation of the institution you attended *before* graduation has lasting consequences for your career prospects, further education, and overall professional recognition. If you're concerned about the accreditation status of your institution, research your field's licensing and certification requirements to determine the potential impact.