据了解，美国宪法规定，各州政府负责注册并审批各类高等院校，但各院校是否被社会所认可则取决于政府承认的认证机构的认证。

　　美国高等院校包括公立与私立两种。主要实行二年学制或四年学制，二年制的多为技术专科学校和社区学院。据统计，目前美国各类高等院校有3600多所。

　　美国高等院校的质量认证一般由专业认证机构负责，经美国教育部认可的专业认证机构主要有六大区域认证机构及近百个专业认证机构。联邦政府通过认证机构间接起到对各院校的管理与规范。全美高等教育认证委员会（CHEA）是协调并审核认证机构的专业机构。 通过区域性认证协会或其它专业认证机构的认证，各院校可实现学分相互转换，所颁发的学位证书或文凭证书能获得社会的广泛认可。

　　2012年美国西弗吉尼亚州教育部批准境外正规高校名单：

　　West Virginia

　　Alderson-Broaddus College (Philippi)

　　Appalachian Bible College (Bradley)

　　Beckley Beauty Academy (Beckley)

　　Bethany College (Bethany)

　　Bluefield State College (Bluefield)

　　Charleston School of Beauty Culture (Charleston)

　　Clarksburg Beauty Academy (Clarksburg)

　　Concord College (Athens)

　　Davis and Elkins College (Elkins)

　　Fairmont State College (Fairmont)

　　Fairmont State Community and Technical College (Fairmont)

　　Glenville State College (Glenville)

　　Harpers Ferry Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center (Harpers Ferry)

　　Huntington Junior College (Huntington)

　　Huntington School of Beauty Culture, Inc. (Huntington)

　　International Academy of Design and Technology (Fairmont)

　　International Beauty School (Martinsburg)

　　Marshall University (Huntington)

　　Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre (Waverly)

　　Morgantown Beauty College, Inc. (Morgantown)

　　Mountain State College (Parkersburg)

　　Mountain State University (Beckley)

　　Mountaineer Beauty College, Inc. (St. Albans)

　　National Institute of Technology (Cross Lanes)

　　Ohio Valley College (Vienna)

　　Potomac State College of West Virginia University (Keyser)

　　Salem International University (Salem)

　　Scott College of Cosmetology (Wheeling)

　　Shepherd College (Shepherdstown)

　　Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College (Mount Gay)

　　The University of Charleston (Charleston)

　　Valley Beauty School (Parkersburg)

　　Valley College of Technology (Beckley)

　　Valley College of Technology (Martinsburg)

　　Valley College of Technology (Princeton)

　　West Liberty State College (West Liberty)

　　West Virginia Business College (Nutter Fort)

　　West Virginia Business College (Wheeling)

　　West Virginia Junior College (Bridgeport)

　　West Virginia Junior College (Charleston)

　　West Virginia Junior College (Morgantown)

　　West Virginia Northern Community College (Wheeling)

　　West Virginia State College (Institute)

　　West Virginia University Institute of Technology (Montgomery)

　　West Virginia University (Morgantown)

　　West Virginia University at Parkersburg (Parkersburg)

　　West Virginia Wesleyan College (Buckhannon)

　　Wheeling Jesuit University (Wheeling)