A university’s size, location, academic programs, and tuition costs are major considerations when selecting a college. Yet the ultimate value of a college diploma may hinge on one often-overlooked question: Is the degree from an accredited institution?

Academic accreditation provides students with confidence that a school or program can live up to its promises of academic quality and financial stability, but many prospective students overlook this important stamp of approval.

“A school’s accredited status should be an important factor in making a decision to attend a college or university,” said Tim Willard, director of communications for the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). “A degree from a non-accredited institution may be considered worthless by prospective employers and work done at the non-accredited institution may not be accepted if the student wishes to transfer to an accredited college or university.”

CHEA is a nonprofit organization of 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities that advocates for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation. The organization also recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations.