Accreditation is sought voluntarily and is conferred by non-governmental bodies.
Its two major purposes are quality assurance and institutional and program improvement. The entire institution is evaluated and accredited as a whole. NCA serves colleges and schools in 19 states. The purpose of accreditation is to provides students, parents, alumni, contributors, and other constituents with assurance of acceptable educational quality programs. The self-study report evaluates the current status of North Park University, identifies challenges, and makes recommendations for improvements.