據了解,美國憲法規定,各州政府負責注冊并審批各類高等院校,但各院校是否被社會所認可則取決于政府承認的認證機構的認證。
美國高等院校包括公立與私立兩種。主要實行二年學制或四年學制,二年制的多為技術專科學校和社區學院。據統計,目前美國各類高等院校有3600多所。
美國高等院校的質量認證一般由專業認證機構負責,經美國教育部認可的專業認證機構主要有六大區域認證機構及近百個專業認證機構。聯邦政府通過認證機構間接起到對各院校的管理與規范。全美高等教育認證委員會(CHEA)是協調并審核認證機構的專業機構。 通過區域性認證協會或其它專業認證機構的認證,各院校可實現學分相互轉換,所頒發的學位證書或文憑證書能獲得社會的廣泛認可。
2012年美國紐約州教育部批準境外高校名單:
Adelphi University (Garden City)
Adirondack Beauty School (Glens Falls)
Adirondack Community College (Queensbury)
Albany College of Pharmacy of Union University (Albany)
Albany Medical College (Albany)
Alexandria Professional Body Sugaring (Cheektowaga)
Alfred University (Alfred)
Allen School - Branch Campus (Brooklyn)
Allen School (New York)
Alliance Theological Seminary (Nyack)
American Academy of Dramatic Arts (New York)
American Barber Institute (New York)
American Beauty School, Inc. (Bronx)
The American University in Cairo (New York)
Andrew Terranova & Associates, Inc. (Getzville)
Apex Technical School (New York)
The Art Institute of New York City (New York)
ASA Inst. of Business & Computer Tech. (Brooklyn)
Associated Beth Rivkah Schools (Brooklyn)
Austin Beauty School (Albany)
Aveda Institute Inc. (New York)
Bank Street College of Education (New York)
Bard College (Annandale-On-Hudson)
Barnard College (New York)
Beauty Salon School (Brooklyn)
Beauty School of Middletown (Hyde Park)
Beauty School of Middletown Inc. (Middletown)
Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid (Far Rockaway)
Berk Trade and Business School (Brooklyn)
Berkeley College (New York)