New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is an organization that provides accreditation to over 2,000 public and independent schools and colleges in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Founded in 1885, the NEASC is the nation's oldest regional accrediting association. It focuses on not only higher education, but schools ranging from pre-kindergarten all the way to post graduate level. The NEASC believes that providing accreditation to schools will improve education by causing these schools to strive for the accreditation. Certain standards need to be met to achieve and maintain accreditation, and that in and of itself should improve the institution.

The NEASC has its main headquarters in Bedford, Massachusetts, which is just outside of Boston. Boston alone has a large number of colleges, universities, and other educational institutes. The organization is branched into several commissions, each one of which services a certain kind of school or college. The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education an the Commission on Technical and Career Institutions takes care of accrediting and reviewing colleges and universities that hand out degrees. There are also specific commissions that take care of public schools (Commission on Public Secondary Schools and the Commission on Elementary and Middle Schools), private schools (The Commission on Independent Schools), and vocational schools (Commission on Technical and Career Institutes).

The NEASC is a large association that prides itself in maintaining the highest standards. Once the school is accredited, it must be renewed periodically to make sure the institute is still high quality. The NEASC takes its roll as an organization that encourages excellence very seriously.

Online Colleges Accredited by NEASC

Campus-Based Colleges Accredited by NEASC

For more information and a complete list of schools accredited by NEASC, visit http://www.neasc.org/.