Saint Augustine's students considering transferring amid school's loss of accreditation

For Saint Augustine’s University alumni, their degrees still carry weight since they attended the university when the school's accreditation was not up in the air.

For current students, it’s a different story.

According to academic consultant Dr. Christine Hall with CMH College Consulting, juniors, sophomores and freshmen will be the ones impacted the most.

“The juniors have to look at it like this, ‘Okay, if they don’t get their accreditation by the end of [2025], and I stay, then what?’” Hall said.

Saint Augustine's president: School in 'very dire' situation as fight for accreditation, financial stability continues

Lawyers representing the university plan to file an injunction against SACSCOC's decision. If granted, the injunction will allow Saint Augustine’s University to remain accredited with SACSCOC on Probation for Good Cause until the conclusion of litigation.

Hall said the decision to stay or go depends on whether students believe the university can turn things around by their graduation date.

However, some students won't be willing to take that risk. For one student, no accreditation means they can’t receive federal financial aid.

According to the Department of Education, institutions must be accredited or, in some cases, pre-accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency to participate in federal financial aid programs.

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The DOE added schools are responsible for ensuring students enrolled in eligible programs within the scope of the Department’s recognition of the school’s institutional accrediting agency are the ones who receive those funds.

There is a silver lining, however. Hall said while searching for a new school can be stressful, colleges historically welcome students impacted by accreditation loss.

“Colleges are in the business of education, and they don’t want to see their peer institution lose all of their students,” she said.

Wake Technical Community College has already seen interest from St. Augustine’s students.

“So far, we’ve only heard from one person who identified themselves as being a student at St. Augustine’s and was asking about options,” Vice President of Communications Laurie Clowers said. “Of course, we feel for these students and will do whatever we can to help them achieve their higher education goals.”

Liz Durham, president and founder of Durham College Advising, said there are several things students should consider when transferring from a school that lost its accreditation.

“Build a possible list of schools we’re applying to,” she said. “See what our credits are going to be at that school because you don’t want to set yourself back two years.”