<P> While it might seem that national accreditation would be more important than regional accreditation, this is generally not the case . Regional accreditation is older, and with a few exceptions, more prestigious than national accreditation . Most non-profit institutions are regionally accredited, while most for - profit colleges and universities are served primarily by national accrediting agencies . </P> <P> The following are the seven active regional accrediting agencies for educational institutions in the United States: </P> <Ul> <Li> Middle States Commission on Higher Education, formerly part of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools - Postsecondary institutions in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands . </Li> <Li> New England Association of Schools and Colleges - Educational institutions in the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont). </Li> <Li> Higher Learning Commission, formerly part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools - Educational institutions in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming . </Li> <Li> Northwest Accreditation Commission for primary and secondary schools and Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) for postsecondary institutions in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington . </Li> <Li> Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Educational institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia . </Li> <Li> Western Association of Schools and Colleges - 4 - year educational institutions in California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau, and Northern Marianas Islands, as well as schools for American children in Asia . </Li> <Li> Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, formerly part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges - 2 - year educational institutions in California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau, and Northern Marianas Islands, as well as schools for American children in Asia . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Middle States Commission on Higher Education, formerly part of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools - Postsecondary institutions in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands . </Li>

6 regional accrediting bodies recognized by the u.s. department of education