North Carolina Agricultural and Technical is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS),[47] which is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical holds the distinction as being the nation's leading producer of African American engineers, in addition to being the leading producer of African-American women engineers at the bachelor's level.[48] The university is second largest producer of African-American engineers at the master's level behind Georgia Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University; and the leading producer of African-American doctorates in engineering.[48] The university is also noted for its degrees in agriculture.