JD Supra
Foley Hoag
August 20, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Major accreditation reform proposed: On August 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would fundamentally restructure the higher education accreditation system, implementing Executive Order 14279. Comments are due September 21, 2026.
- Institutional choice and competition: The proposed rule would eliminate the historical distinction between “regional” and “national” accreditors, allow institutions to hold multiple accreditations simultaneously, and streamline the process for new accreditors to enter the market.
- Shift to outcomes-based standards: Accreditors would be required to evaluate institutions based on measurable student outcomes—including employment, completion rates, and economic returns—rather than process-based compliance metrics.