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Accreditation Alliance of Career Schools and Colleges

EIN 52-1828939 · Arlington, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENSURING QUALITY EDUCATION THAT ENHANCES STUDENT SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
43.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
29
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$431,843, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $4.2 million spent. ACCREDITATION: ACCSC IS A PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT, INDEPENDENT ACCREDITING AGENCY WHOSE MISSION IS ENSURING QUALITY EDUCATION THAT ENHANCES STUDENT SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE. AS AN ACCREDITING AGENCY, ACCSC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSURING THAT MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE CAPABLE OF PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THEIR CHOSEN CAREERS. THE ACCREDITING PROCESS ALSO ASSURES STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC THAT HIGH STANDARDS OF CAREER EDUCATION ARE BEING MET.
  2. $784,100 spent. MEETINGS: ACCSC PROVIDES FUNCTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE ACCSC MEMBERSHIP OF APPROXIMATELY 584 SCHOOLS. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE COSTS TO ACCSC IN CONDUCTING FOUR MEETINGS A YEAR TO REVIEW THE ACTIVE MEMBER SCHOOLS AS A PART OF THE CYCLE FOR RE-ACCREDITATION. NEW APPLICANT SCHOOLS ARE ALSO CONSIDERED FOR INITIAL ACCREDITATION AT THESE MEETINGS. OTHER MEMBER SCHOOLS ARE ALSO REVIEWED IN CONJUNCTION WITH VARIOUS OTHER ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, CHANGE OF LOCATION, SATELLITE LOCATION, COMMISSION DIRECTED ACTIVITIES, ETC. ACCSC ALSO SPONSORS AN ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE (PDC) DESIGNED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT ITS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS' EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PDC ARE INCLUDED IN THESE EXPENSES.
  3. $657,574 spent. WORKSHOPS: WORKSHOP EXPENSES ARE FOR FUNCTIONS NECESSARY TO HOST APPROXIMATELY TEN WORKSHOPS EACH FISCAL YEAR. TYPES OF WORKSHOPS INCLUDE: ACCREDITATION WORKSHOPS, WHICH ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS AND INITIAL APPLICANTS; TEAM LEADER WORKSHOPS; AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING WORKSHOPS.
  4. $112,021 spent. INFORMATION: INFORMATION FOSTERS KNOWLEDGE OF, AND STIMULATES INTEREST IN, ACCSC AND ACCREDITATION; A MEANS OF DISSEMINATING TO SCHOOL MEMBERS TRENDS, SUCCESSES BY SCHOOLS, AND OTHER INFORMATION DESIGNED TO ASSIST SCHOOLS IN BECOMING BETTER AWARE OF EDUCATIONAL ISSUES AND ONGOING ACCREDITATION ACTIVITIES. THIS INCLUDES ALL MISCELLANEOUS OUTSIDE PRINTING COSTS; THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT; ANALYSIS AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE ANNUAL SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DATA BROCHURE; UPDATING AND PUBLISHING THE STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION; AND AUTHORING AND MAINTAINING THE "MONOGRAPH AND "BLUEPRINT" SERIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.