In the United States, each state, not the federal government,
regulates the schools within its borders, so standards and
quality may vary considerably. To assure a basic level of
quality, accrediting agencies, private nongovernmental
educational institutions with regional or national scope that
maintain standards used to evaluate the quality of schools and
educational programs, were created. The accreditation process
gives public recognition to institutions that meet certain
standards. It is a promise that a school will provide the
quality of education it claims to offer. Accreditation assures
the student that the school operates on a sound financial basis,
has an approved program of study, qualified instructors,
adequate facilities and equipment, effective recruitment and
admission policies, and that it advertises its courses
truthfully. Accreditation can be a tough, lengthy and expensive
process to go through, and it's a good way to separate the
legitimate institutions from the "diploma mills". However, not