Accreditation Sanctions as Quality Signals in a Competitive Market for Students. Issue 6 (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burnett, Christopher A.
• Is Part Of: Educational policy. Volume 36:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1507
• Page End: 1528
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: higher education policy -- accreditation -- accountability -- enrollment; Education and state -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; 379.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0895904820983034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-9048

Abstract

Tuition-dependent colleges and universities face increasing competition for students. This study examined whether accreditation sanctions might serve as signals of quality and relate to enrollment. Results of a panel analysis showed enrollment declined for institutions after being placed on sanction with their regional accreditor. Specifically, 4-year private not-for-profit institutions had a 7.7% decline in FTE enrollment 2 years after warning ( p < .05) and public 4- and 2-year institutions had a 5.5% and an 9.4% relative decline in FTE 2 years after probation, respectively ( p < .05). Additional results demonstrated that a relationship remained up to 4 years post-sanction.