Washington, D.C. Education Dept. Launches New College Accreditation Rulemaking—What it Could Mean for Aid and Transfers

Washington — The U.S. Department of Education says it will launch a new negotiated rulemaking committee aimed at overhauling how college accreditors are recognized and monitored—an often technical process that can shape whether students can use federal aid, transfer credits smoothly, and avoid extra semesters of tuition.

The department announced Jan. 26 that it plans to establish the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) committee, with nominations for negotiators due Feb. 27. The committee is expected to meet for two five-day sessions in April and May, as the agency develops draft regulations governing accreditation.

Officials said the effort will pursue several goals: making it easier to recognize new and existing accreditors, examining whether accreditation contributes to rising college costs and “credential inflation,” tightening rules meant to prevent undue influence from related trade associations, and shifting quality reviews toward data-driven student outcomes.

Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent criticized what he described as a “protectionist” accreditation system that can add administrative burden and costs, and said the department wants stakeholders willing to “challenge the status quo.”

The department also tied the initiative to Executive Order 14279, issued in April 2025, which calls for accreditation reforms.

What parents should know

• Transfer credit rules can affect time-to-degree and total cost; watch whether proposed changes make transfers easier.
• Accreditation changes can influence which schools qualify for federal aid, so verify a college’s accreditor before enrolling.

The department said it will gather committee and public input before proposing a final rule and directed nominations to its rulemaking email address.

This article was produced by a education parenting today journalist with the assistance of Ai. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.