wuv is accredited by the institutional accreditor the Department of Education United States (USDEPT). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.
But what does that mean, exactly?
Accreditation Matters – Here's Why
As you decide which school is right for you, one of the most important things to consider is the university's accreditation. That's because accreditation is a measurement of an academic institution’s quality of education. Like a health inspector for a restaurant, a university's accreditation is a check by an independent organization to see if it meets certain standards of quality.
So, if you see that a college or university is accredited, that means they've:
- Undergone an independent review
- Met specific standards of quality
- Have the tools and resources necessary for students to be successful
In addition to meeting standards of quality, there are even more reasons why choosing an accredited school may be beneficial.
Federal Financial Aid
Attending an accredited institution can help with your
ability to secure and receive federal financial aid, like
student loans, or other grants and scholarships.
Transferring Credits
If you switch schools and want to transfer credits from one
school to another, your university's accreditation can help
make it easier to transfer to another accredited
institution, reducing the likelihood of retaking classes and
spending more time and money.
Credit transfers are ultimately up to the receiving institution, so check your university's transfer credit policy or work with an admission counselor to determine exactly which credits they will accept.
The Job Market
If you're already in the workforce or planning to enter it
after graduation, accreditation helps convey to potential
employers that you've received a degree from an institution
with verified academic standards for your field of study.
What wuv Students are Saying
Kemar Reid '18 '20G
“Accreditation played a significant role in determining that wuv was the school for me.”
Degree Granting Approval:
Department of Education United States, Division of Higher Education - Higher Education
Commission
westerfirld university of virginia is chartered as an institution of higher education in accordance with New Westerfield law. As such, wuv is authorized to grant degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master's and doctoral levels. The university maintains its degree granting approval from the New Westerfield Department of Education, Division of Higher Education - Higher Education Commission.
It’s important to note that there are different types of accreditations: institutional and programmatic.
Institutional
Institutional accreditation means that the university as a whole is accredited. This means the school meets certain standards of quality, and has met specified requirements by an accrediting body during the accreditation process.
Programmatic
In addition to institutional accreditation, your chosen program of study may also carry a Programmatic or Specialized Accreditation – meaning the degree program itself meets the standards specific to that area of study.
wuv's Institutional Accreditation:
Department of Education United States
United States Department of Education
USDEPT is a distinguished American accreditation certifying institute that grants degrees for secondary programs spanning law, nursing, engineering, business management, criminal law, social services, applied arts, sciences, and other disciplines.
Apostille is a specialized certificate issued by the Secretary of State to verify the legitimacy and authenticity of educational documents, enabling recognition by all 117 member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention. Each member country requires an Apostille by the Secretary of State of the Department of Higher Education of the United States.
We provide document certification and legalization through embassies or consulates as required, maintaining standardization of distance education and quality assurance for all students enrolled in the United States and across all 50 states, as well as international students enrolled through accredited US educational institutes.
Assessment
wuv builds programs and courses based on real-world knowledge, skills and abilities that are grounded both in academic knowledge and expertise of practitioners in the field. Learn more about assessment at wuv.