Students take action on
Dept of Edu
Proposed Rules About Accreditation
Deadline: September 21st, 2026
The Short Summary
The U.S. Department of Education has proposed major changes to the federal rules governing college accreditation. The proposal is long and technical but the questions underneath it aren't. Who decides whether your college is providing a quality education? What should count as student success? What happens when credits don't transfer? Who holds a college accountable when it fails students? And what voice should students have in that system? The rules are not final. Right now, students and the public have an opportunity to weigh in through online public comment.
Student Guide to Commenting on Federal Regulations
Quick Facts:
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Anyone can submit a public comment
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Comments help government agencies write better rules
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Agencies must respond to series, relevant comments before finalizing a rule
Public Comment Deadline September 21, 2026
Make it personal to you or your organization and use your own words. Avoid form letters that use identical language, as ED may not respond or take them seriously. Explain how your experiences directly inform your perspective on the changes to accreditation.Identify the provisions you oppose. Name the specific provisions you are commenting on and include the provision numbers cited in the list of changes below. Explain why you support or oppose each provision and how it would affect students and/or institutions. Note: vague comments are easier for ED to dismiss.Make a specific ask. Clearly identify the provisions in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking you want ED to specifically revise, remove, or add and explain why.
Tips for Writing an Effective Public Comment
Magnus Noble, Primary student negotiator at the U.S. Department of Education's Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization negotiated rulemaking committee
Think of accreditation as part of the quality-control and accountability system for higher education. Accrediting agencies evaluate colleges, universities and academic programs to determine whether they meet established standards. For the institutions or programs they oversee, accreditors are responsible for examining...
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Educational quality
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Academic programs
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Faculty
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Student achievement
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Institutional resources
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Financial and administrative capacity
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Whether an institution is doing what it promises students
Accreditation isn't just a seal or score on your college's website. Accreditation is connected to federal financial aid. Accrediting agencies recognized by the Department of Education serve as important gatekeepers in determining which institutions can participate in federal student-aid programs. Those programs provide more than $120 billion annually in Pell Grants and federal student loans, according to the Department of Education. So accreditation can ultimately impact how much money you get to go to college.
For a deep history on accreditation click here.
How to Commenting on Federal Regulations?
Tips for Writing an Effective Public Comment
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Make it personal to you or your organization and use your own words. Avoid form letters that use identical language, as ED may not respond or take them seriously. Explain how your experiences directly inform your perspective on the changes to accreditation.
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Identify the provisions you oppose. Name the specific provisions you are commenting on and include the provision numbers cited in the list of changes below. Explain why you support or oppose each provision and how it would affect students and/or institutions. Note: vague comments are easier for ED to dismiss.
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Make a specific ask. Clearly identify the provisions in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking you want ED to specifically revise, remove, or add and explain why.
How to Structure Your Public Comment
Make your comment personal to you! To help you get started, we provide a Recommendation below of how you can structure your letter. Introduce yourself or your organization. Example: “This letter is submitted on behalf of USSA, a national nonprofit organization representing over 2 million students across the United States , in response to the U.S. Department of Education (ED)’s proposed revisions to the regulations that govern accreditation.”Clearly state your position, the specific provisions of the rule that concern you, and how these provisions would impact you, your institution, or the students you work with. Example: “I oppose the provisions in § 602.17(g) and § 602.23(j) as currently written in the NPRM. Together, these provisions would shield state lawmakers who encroach on academic freedom and institutional governance from accreditor scrutiny. This means that if a partisan state legislature decides to micromanage a university’s curriculum, dismantle tenure, or stack a university board with political operatives — actions that are currently happening and often undermine lawful programs and initiatives designed to uplift under-represented students, the accreditor may be required to look the other way.