The Department of Education's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. It offers a variety of grant programs the promote international exchange, and its EducationUSA resource provides information on studying in the United States.

CHEA is an association of 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities and recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organisations.

The United States has a single, comprehensive higher education system. It is not divided into university and non-university sub-sectors. The following links provide information about degree-granting institutions of higher education.

The United States has a variety of education and training providers offering non-degree programs at the postsecondary level. The following links provide information about them.

Quality assurance is administered by non-governmental accrediting agencies which are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).  These accreditation agencies must meet required standards and implement required policies and procedures, regardless of whether the agency is regional, national or programmatic (specialized). The following links provide information about accredited institutions and the accrediting process.  For complete information about accredited institutions, consult the accreditation agency's website.

IMPORTANT: The U.S. ENIC (U.S. Department of Education) does not evaluate/validate academic or professional credentials. Please do not submit requests for such evaluations; however, feel free to contact the U.S. ENIC regarding other inquiries. See below for general information on policies and procedures for the recognition of foreign credentials.