The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) is a private, non-profit organization that operates as a national accreditor of institutions that primarily offer distance education. Founded in 1926, the DEAC holds recognition by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Accreditation by DEAC covers all distance education activities within an institution and it provides a single source of nationally recognized accreditation from the primary school level through professional doctoral degree-granting institutions.