An embattled college accreditor that survived several rounds of federal scrutiny over the course of three presidential administrations may have finally run out of chances.
The U.S. Department of Education on Friday said it had denied the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and School’s appeal to retain its federal status as a college accreditor.
The federal government doesn’t accredit colleges directly, instead relying on accreditors to vet universities. The Education Department’s decision means roughly two dozen schools approved by ACICS have 18 months to find a new accreditor or they will lose access to federal financial aid such as student loans or Pell Grants.
