Regional vs National University
• Regional accreditation of a university is based upon location while national accreditation is not region specific, and there is nothing to suggest that national universities are any better or more important than regional universities.
• National colleges and universities often enjoy higher reputation, but regional universities are often better suited to the aspirations of students.
• A word of caution before deciding on the university is that transfer of credits from a regional university to a national university and vice versa is often not possible.
When you are ready to pursue higher education, selection of college or university matters a lot. This is because most parents want their kids to attend colleges having a good reputation and teaching standards besides ranking high in the eyes of the prospective employers in the industry. There are regional and national universities confusing students as they cannot make up their mind whether to join a reputable regional university or to go for that Ivy League as it is known nationally, and even internationally. This article takes a closer look at the regional and national accreditation of universities at U.S. to enable students to take a decision accordingly.
Regional University
There are 6 regional agencies spread across the country that are involved in the task of accreditation of colleges and universities. These are Middle State, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Colleges and universities can apply for regional accreditation with the agency that falls in its area or region. Once the institution gets accreditation, it is labeled as a regional university. The most popular regional universities in the country are University of Phoenix, UCLA, Harvard, and the Ohio state university. Regional universities have a wide range of bachelor level degree programs; some masters level degree programs, and very few doctoral programs.
National University
National accreditation can be obtained by a university located in any part of the country, and it is not region specific. Colleges and universities opt for national accreditation when they feel that their mode of education is different from the traditional or the regional flavor, and they are fit to be compared with similar colleges or universities across the country on the basis of their system of instruction or the content of the courses offered. These are also colleges that are hard to fit into the molds that are conceived by regional accreditation agencies. Whatever the reason, if a college or university does not apply for accreditation from the 6 regional agencies, it can apply for accreditation from the national agency.
National universities are known for their full range of degree course and programs. These include bachelor level degree courses, masters and doctoral programs. These institutions are also known for their research facilities.
What is the difference between Regional and National University?
• There is nothing to suggest that national universities are any better or more important than regional universities.
• While regional accreditation is based upon location, national accreditation is not region specific, and any university, in any part of the country, can opt for national accreditation if it feels that its system of education is not traditional or region specific.
• There are far more degree programs and research course and facilities in national universities than in regional universities.
• National colleges and universities often enjoy higher reputation, but regional universities are often better suited to the aspirations of students.
• Transfer of credits from a regional university to a national university and vice versa is often not possible.