Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Issued for Accreditation Overhaul

The Department of Education issued an NPRM on August 20, 2026, to overhaul the U.S. higher education accreditation system. The proposed rule is meant to simplify the Secretary’s process of recognizing new and existing accreditors; promote a better return on investment for students; make it easier for students to transfer; and promote academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and research integrity. The Department argues that accreditors have acted as major gatekeepers to more than $100 billion in federal student aid annually, with a small group dominating the sector for decades in ways that drove up costs and, in some cases, prioritized ideological agendas over student outcomes. The rule follows consensus reached in May by the AIM (Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization) negotiated rulemaking committee. Public comments on the proposed rule are due by September 21, 2026, submitted through regulations.gov.