The impression prevails that there exists some authoritative classification of higher institutions, a classification which has behind it the sanction of the Government. However, there is no comprehensive classification of collegiate institutions by any national governmental agency. Various agencies in the United States maintain lists of collegiate institutions whose graduates are given certain academic or professional privileges, but very few of these lists have received widespread publicity. The criteria in accordance with which the lists are made up vary. Consequently, there is great and growing uncertainty as to what is meant by the term "recognized" or "approved" or "accredited" college. In 1917, the Bureau of Education issued a bulletin entitled "Accredited Higher Institutions," which contained the standards used by various nonsectarian agencies, such as State departments of education, State universities, educational foundations, and voluntary educational associations. To these standards were added the list of institutions approved by the several accrediting agencies. So useful have these lists proved and so rapid has been the advance of the standardizing movement during the past 10 years, that it seemed wise to revise the former bulletin. The same general plan has been followed as in the first bulletin, except that the standards and lists of institutions of a number of church boards of education have been added. The bulletin is divided into four parts. Part I contains lists of institutions accredited by State universities. At the head of each list, the purpose for which the institutions included in it are accredited and the basis of approval are clearly stated. Part II contains lists of institutions accredited by State departments of education. Each list is headed by an outline of the purpose and basis for accrediting adopted by the department in question. Part III contains lists of recognized or approved institutions prepared by the influential voluntary organizations of secondary and higher institutions referred to above and by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Part IV contains lists of accredited and classified colleges prepared by a number of the church boards of education which have been active in this field of work. A secondary purpose of this bulletin is to show the extent to which junior colleges have been established in various parts of the country and recognized by accrediting agencies. An index is also included. (Individual sections contain footnotes.) [Best copy available has been provided.]