The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is a national accrediting association recognized by CHEA. CHEA authorizes the DETC to review and accredit programs of higher learning delivering more than half of course content through distance learning. The DETC has authorization to accredit programs of study at the associate, bachelor's, master's, first professional and professional doctoral level. As of February 2011, the DETC does not have authorization to accredit Ph.D. programs, regardless of program delivery. The DETC Accrediting Commission handles all program accreditation for the DETC Association.
The DETC Association consists of a diverse range of member institutions of higher education. Together all member institutions offer more than 500 educational programs to the public. Some member institutions have student bodies in excess of 200,000 students, while others have less than 200 students. In addition, the DETC runs distance education training programs on an annual basis for members to continually improve the experience of distance education.
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is authorized by CHEA to accredit programs of study in a post-secondary educational setting, from the diploma level through the doctoral level, to include Ph.D. programs. As a regional association, the accrediting arm of Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) covers higher educational institutions in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Membership includes 524 institutions of higher education, both in the traditional education environment and through distance learning. As of February 2011, the association also has 10 candidates for institution membership and program accreditation.
The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE) is the accreditation arm of NEASC. The NEASC has authorization from CHEA to accredit institutions of higher learning who award associate through doctoral degrees. The NEASC covers institutions in the New England states and some international programs. The NEASC has 245 member institutions, including 9 from overseas, as of February 2011.
The accrediting arm of the North Central Association of College and Schools (NCACS) is the The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC). The NCA-HLC has authorization from CHEA to accredit programs of high learning in the North Central region of the United States and overseas if such institutions already have accreditation from recognized accrediting agencies in their respective sovereign territories. In order to extend such accreditation, the overseas institutions also must come from a federally authorized sovereign nation.
The NWCCU has authorization from CHEA to accredit institutions of higher learning awarding degrees from the associate level through the doctoral level. As of February 2011, NWCCU has 162 member institutions in the Northwest Region of the United States, including Alaska.
The SACS functions as the regional accrediting body of the south and southeast region of the United States, covering 11 states as far west as Texas. The SACS also accredits programs in Latin America and accepts applications from international institutions as well.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has two different accrediting arms: the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC) and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC-ACSCU). The WASC-ACCJC accredits colleges awarding associated degrees, while the WASC-ACSCU coverages institutions awarding bachelor's degrees and above. The WASC covers institutions in California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Marina Islands, Micronesia, Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau.