Regional educational accreditor serving 750+ institutions across the American South since 1895.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. As of 2022, it oversees approximately 750 public and private degree-granting educational institutions across the Southern United States. SACS accredits both two-year and four-year institutions, including community colleges and universities, with accreditation extending to all educational programs offered at accredited institutions.
The organization operates through multiple divisions, including the Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which accredits higher education institutions, and the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), which accredits over 13,000 primary, middle, and secondary schools. SACS publishes accreditation actions every six months, including reaffirmations and public sanctions. The organization also works with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors.
SACS maintains headquarters in North Druid Hills, Georgia, near Decatur in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Its accreditation authority extends across 11 U.S. states and to educational institutions serving U.S. students in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, including accreditation of universities in Latin America and the Middle East.