PRESS RELEASE: Defense of Freedom Institute Calls for Bold Reforms to College Accreditation System

The new report highlights the urgent need for change, recommends outcome-based standards, greater transparency, and an end to the accreditor cartel

WASHINGTON—The Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies (DFI) released a new report today, Should College Accreditation Be Replaced or Reformed?, which reveals deep flaws in the U.S. higher education accreditation system and provides concrete recommendations to improve accountability, transparency, and innovation.

As gatekeepers to more than $100 billion in federal student aid annually, accreditation agencies wield immense power over institutions of higher education. DFI’s report finds that the current accreditation system fails to ensure academic quality, operates like a monopoly, lacks transparency, and stifles new and innovative educational models.

“The current accreditation system is failing students, institutions, and taxpayers alike,” said Andrew Gillen, author of the report. “We need a system that prioritizes student outcomes, fosters innovation, and holds institutions accountable for the billions in federal funding they receive. The report’s recommendations provide a roadmap for meaningful change.”

Key Findings from the Report:

• Failure to Ensure Quality: Accreditation focuses on inputs rather than student outcomes, failing to hold colleges accountable for poor academic performance and low return on investment.
  
• Lack of Transparency and Accountability: The accreditation process operates behind closed doors, making it difficult for students, policymakers, and the public to understand how agencies apply their policies and standards to any given school.
  
• Suppression of Innovation: The rigid accreditation structure discourages alternative education models, preventing cost-effective and modern approaches to learning from gaining traction.
  
• Accreditation as a Monopoly: Existing accreditation agencies function as a cartel, making it nearly impossible for new educational institutions to enter the market and challenge the status quo.

Recommendations for Reform:

• Shift to Outcomes-Based Accreditation: Require accreditors to assess student learning and career success rather than engage in “check-the-box” bureaucratic compliance.
  
• Increase Competition Among Accreditors: Expand the recognition of new accreditation agencies to encourage innovation and reduce conflicts of interest.
  
• Enhance Transparency: Mandate public disclosure of accreditation evaluations and justifications for decisions.
  
• Eliminate Unnecessary Barriers to New Accreditation Agencies: Reform the recognition process to allow new agencies to enter and compete on a level playing field.

The release of this report comes at a pivotal moment as lawmakers and education leaders seek ways to improve accountability in higher education. DFI urges policymakers, higher education institutions, and accreditation bodies to engage in a national conversation about implementing these reforms.

“This isn’t about dismantling accreditation but rethinking it,” said DFI Co-Founder Jim Blew. “If we want to ensure that students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for the workforce, we must modernize the way we evaluate what constitutes quality.”

To view the full report, click here.