All 52 states in the United States have accredited traditional and non-traditional education providers included in a comprehensive database maintained by the United States Commission of Higher Education (USCHE). To get full accreditation status, each institution must pass a rigorous evaluation process. However, students from different parts of the world who enroll in American universities—particularly non-traditional universities—may come across a variety of forms for verifying and authenticating their foreign academic qualifications.
Equivalence is a fundamental requirement for validating foreign academic credentials. This process involves careful verification of educational documents to confirm authenticity and academic level. The recognition of the awarding institution is crucial and must be listed either in the United States Commission of Higher Education's (USCHE) database or accredited by one of the six regional bodies recognised by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Courses are evaluated for equivalence by USCHE based on the academic standards of the student’s home country, within the framework of regional accreditation. If the certificate relates to a field outside of scientific disciplines, additional practical credit hours or relevant professional experience may be required to qualify. Furthermore, the program’s duration must generally match that of traditional education systems, although exceptional exemptions may be granted with official government support coordinated through USCHE’s legal aid division.
Applicants must also meet the equivalency criteria of both their country of education and their country of residence. While non-traditional programs may offer flexible or self-paced formats, the total length of study remains aligned with traditional academic expectations. For example, a master’s degree—regardless of the time taken to complete—is standardised as 60 credit hours, equivalent to two academic years.
The required documentation for equivalence evaluation differs depending on whether the program is at the undergraduate or graduate level:
Attested certificate from the United States Commission of Higher Education (USCHE) and the Embassy of the country of study in the United States.
Attested certificate issued by the United States Commission of Higher Education (USCHE) and the Embassy of the country where the education was completed in the United States
The United States Commission of Higher Education evaluates equivalence based on the submission and verification of the above-listed documents through appropriate channels. Failure to provide any required document—valid or expired—may lead to the rejection of the equivalency application by USCHE.
