Accrediting Commission International

What Accrediting Commission International does

Accrediting Commission International (ACI) is a private, non-governmental accrediting body headquartered in Beebe, Arkansas, that provides accreditation services to private schools, colleges, and theological seminaries worldwide. Founded and led by President John F. Scheel, Ph.D., ACI evaluates member institutions through a traditional process involving application review, candidate status assignment, and on-site examinations by ACI examiners. The organization explicitly positions itself outside government oversight, serving religious and private education communities seeking independent quality verification, with the stated mission of encouraging sound scholarship and maintaining the highest academic achievement in private education.

ACI generates revenue through two primary streams: one-time school membership fees averaging approximately $2,300 per institution (comprising a $300 application fee and $1,500 on-site visit fee plus examiner travel costs), and recurring individual teacher certifications priced at $35 per year. The organization claims a member base of 2,000+ institutions globally. Beyond accreditation, ACI operates an annual conference (2026 scheduled for March 26-28 in North Little Rock, Arkansas), distributes educational newsletters, conducts regional seminars, and maintains a student referral channel where ACI fields daily inquiries from prospective students and directs them to member institutions. The organization holds BBB accreditation and leverages word-of-mouth referrals as a key member acquisition channel.

ACI operates without a proprietary technology platform—its services are delivered through manual accreditation processes, paper-based applications, and in-person evaluations. The organization has 11-50 employees and no disclosed external funding, operating as an independent private body serving a niche segment of the private and religious education market.

Name

Accrediting Commission International

Legal name

Accrediting Commission International

Website

https://accreditnow.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Accrediting Commission International is a private, non-governmental accrediting body that evaluates and credentials private schools, colleges, and theological seminaries worldwide through manual application review and on-site examinations, serving 2,000+ member institutions globally from its base in Beebe, Arkansas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Accreditation Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Services (61), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Institutional Accreditors (Career, Faith-Based, Distance, etc.) (EDADACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized/Single-Purpose Accreditors (e.g., seminaries, arts conservatories) (EDADACAD), Regional/Institutional Accreditors (Universities & Colleges) (EDADACAA)

Keywords

• Educational accreditation services
• Private school accreditation
• Teacher certification programs
• Theological seminary accreditation
• College accreditation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beebe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. School Membership Fees: Schools pay an application fee of $300 (refunded if rejected), an on-site visit fee of $1,500, plus travel expenses (round-trip airfare, two nights lodging, two days car rental). Total cost averages approximately $2,300 from start to finish. Schools must also cover ACI examiners' travel costs for on-site evaluation.
2. Teacher Certification: Individual teacher certification costs $35.00 per year at all levels. Administrators may also obtain certification. This is optional for member schools but recommended. Certificates must be renewed annually on January 1.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Accrediting Commission International accredits private schools, colleges, and theological seminaries through a structured process that includes application review, candidate status designation, and on-site evaluation by ACI examiners to assess educational quality and institutional standards. ACI also offers an annual Teacher Certification Program ($35/year) for educators at member institutions and hosts an annual conference featuring educational seminars and professional development for member administrators and teachers.

Product overview

Accrediting Commission International (ACI) offers a portfolio of educational accreditation and certification services targeting private schools, colleges, and theological seminaries. The core offering is its Accreditation Services program, which evaluates and accredits member institutions through a structured process including application review, candidate status, and on-site examination. Supporting this, ACI provides a Teacher Certification Program for educators at member schools, conducts an Annual Conference with seminars and professional development, and maintains Q&A resources to inform prospective members. The organization does not operate a technology platform; all services are delivered through traditional accreditation processes, application submissions, and in-person evaluations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accreditation Services Comprehensive accreditation services for private schools, colleges, and theological seminaries. The accreditation process includes application review, candidate status designation, and an on-site visit by ACI examiners to evaluate educational quality and institutional standards. Designed for private educational institutions seeking non-government-affiliated quality recognition.
• Teacher Certification Program Individual membership certification program for teachers working at ACI member institutions. Verifies a teacher's qualifications in a specific field to teach subjects for ACI membership. Certification fee is $35.00 per year at all levels, with annual renewal required on January 1. Optional for member schools but recommended by ACI.
• Annual Conference Annual conference held each year featuring educational seminars, meetings, and professional development sessions for member institutions. Includes expert speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities for school administrators and educators.
• Q & A Information Resources Online resource providing answers to common questions about school accreditation, the accreditation process, requirements, costs, and the value of ACI membership. Available to prospective schools exploring accreditation with ACI.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of students are gained by ACI member schools each year based on accreditation status
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA): NC-SARA coordinates state-level reciprocity for distance education. Comparable to ACI as an enabling/oversight body for non-government-regulated education providers, though it focuses on state authorization rather than institutional accreditation.
• International Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA): CHEA is a membership-based coordinating body that recognizes and lists qualifying accreditors. Comparable to ACI as a higher-education membership/oversight organization, though operating at the meta-accreditor level rather than accrediting individual schools.

Broad incumbents

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC): HLC is a major U.S. regional accreditor for colleges and universities across a broad geography. It overlaps with ACI's college accreditation segment but is much larger, federally-recognized, and not faith-based focused.
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC): WSCUC accredits colleges and universities on the U.S. West Coast. Comparable to ACI's college accreditation activity but with federal recognition and a broader academic scope.
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC): SACSCOC is one of the largest U.S. regional accreditors for colleges and universities. It is comparable to ACI in the sense that it accredits private institutions, but operates at far greater scale and with federal recognition.
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE): MSCHE is a U.S. regional accreditor for colleges and universities. Comparable to ACI in accrediting private colleges but operates with federal recognition and a much broader institutional portfolio.

Direct peers

• Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET): ACCET accredits continuing education and vocational training institutions. Comparable to ACI as a non-regional, membership-based accreditor evaluating private, non-degree-granting and career-focused institutions.
• Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC): DEAC accredits distance education institutions and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Comparable to ACI as a specialized, programmatic accreditor serving non-traditional and private educational providers.
• Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE): ABHE is a programmatic accreditor for biblical higher education institutions and seminaries in North America. It directly overlaps with ACI's theological seminary and faith-based college accreditation offerings.
• Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS): TRACS is a federally-recognized national accreditor for Christian colleges, schools, and seminaries. It is the most directly comparable peer to ACI, serving an overlapping faith-based and private institution customer base with similar accreditation services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/telegenicdon
• Facebookfacebook.com/AccreditingCommissionInternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accrediting-commission-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accrediting Commission International