Education Department Eases College Accreditation Switch Rules

The U.S. Department of Education announced it is streamlining the process for colleges and universities to switch accreditors and is resuming the acceptance and review of new accrediting agencies, reversing prior restrictions from the Biden administration. These changes implement President Trump's executive order aimed at promoting competition among accreditors, reducing college costs, and minimizing federal oversight of institutional choices. The revised guidance, detailed in a Dear Colleague letter, allows institutions to change accreditors for reasons such as better alignment with religious missions or objections to certain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices. Supporters argue this will create a more competitive accreditation marketplace, but critics warn it could lead to a 'race to the bottom' in quality standards and make it easier for schools to evade accountability. The Trump administration's executive order also directs accreditors to prioritize intellectual diversity, discourage credential inflation, and establish new flexible quality-assurance pathways. Higher education policy experts remain concerned that these changes could undermine protections for students who rely on accreditation as a guarantee of educational quality.