When you're deciding which school to attend, one of the many factors you'll need to consider is whether your school is accredited. This is quality control of sorts that's overseen by outside agencies that evaluate a program based on certain criteria and determine whether a school has met those standards. Some experts say that accreditation is the number one consideration when sorting through schools. Others advise that many good schools are not accredited simply due to the length and complication of the process, nevertheless, it can come with some advantages when it comes to getting financial aid.