If you’re a working adult thinking about going back to school, you’re probably juggling a lot already—career goals, family responsibilities, finances and time. The last thing you want is to invest in a graduate degree that doesn’t actually return dividends, like moving your career forward. That’s where graduate program accreditation comes in, and it matters far more than you may realize.
Let’s look at some nuts and bolts.
What Is Graduate Program Accreditation, Really?
In plain language, accreditation is a quality check. Accreditors conduct an independent review process that evaluates whether a university or specific graduate program meets established academic and professional standards. When you earn an accredited master’s degree, it signals to employers, licensing boards and other universities that your education meets recognized benchmarks for quality and rigor.
In short, accreditation protects your time, money and future.
Why You Should Care About Accreditation
When you’re balancing work and life, every decision has to count. Here’s why accreditation matters in graduate programs—especially for professionals:
- Career advancement depends on it
Many employers prefer degrees from accredited institutions. Without an appropriate accreditation, your degree may not qualify you for promotions, salary increases or leadership roles—even if you worked hard to earn it. - Licensure and certification requirements
This is huge in fields like education, social work, business and especially healthcare. For example, the importance of accreditation in nursing graduate programs can’t be overstated. Advanced practice roles, board exams and state licensure often require graduation from an accredited program. In some fields, no accreditation can mean no license. - Financial aid eligibility
Federal financial aid, employer tuition reimbursement and scholarships are typically only available for accredited programs. In other words, accreditation directly impacts affordability. - Transferability and further education
If you plan to pursue additional credentials or a doctoral degree later, accreditation matters even more. Credits earned from unaccredited programs often don’t transfer.
How to Check If Grad School Is Accredited
Thankfully, checking to see if a grad school is accredited is straightforward:
- Visit the university’s website and look for accreditation details (usually under “About” or “Accreditation”).
- Verify institutional accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- For program-specific fields (like nursing or education), confirm specialized accreditation from the appropriate professional body.
- If a school is vague or avoids the topic, that should be a red flag.
Programmatic vs. Institutional Accreditation (Yes, There’s a Difference)
- Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole.
- Programmatic accreditation focuses on specific programs, such as nursing, business, theology or counseling.
Ideally, your graduate program has both. This combination ensures academic credibility, professional relevance and helps ensure your graduate degree will take you even further.
Where Northwest Nazarene University Fits In
For working adults exploring holistic, career-focused education, institutions like Northwest Nazarene University provide accredited graduate programs designed with flexibility and real-world application in mind. While every student should do their due diligence, NNU is an example of how accreditation aligns with academic integrity and professional outcomes. It’s one of the ways we do college different.
The Bottom Line
Accreditation isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a safeguard. It ensures your accredited master’s degree will be respected, transferable and useful in the real world. When you’re investing in your future while managing a busy life, graduate program accreditation helps make sure the return on that investment is worth it.
Before you apply, ask the accreditation questions. Your career will thank you later.
