Eligibility Requirements

An institution must meet all Eligibility Requirements before it is granted candidate status or accredited status.

1. Jurisdiction of HLC

The institution falls within HLC’s jurisdiction as defined in HLC’s Bylaws (Article II). HLC extends accreditation and candidacy to higher education institutions that (1) are incorporated in or operating under federal authority within, the United States; and (2) have substantial presence, as defined in HLC policy, within the United States.

2. Legal Status

The institution is legally authorized to award degrees as an institution of higher education in at least one state or sovereign nation within HLC’s jurisdiction. The institution is appropriately authorized in each jurisdiction in which it operates to award degrees, offer educational programs, or conduct activities as an institution of higher education.

3. Governing Board

The institution has a governing board that is free from undue external influence and that possesses and exercises legal powers necessary to govern the institution, including with respect to budget and authority for engaging and dismissing the Chief Executive Officer of the institution.

4. Stability

During the two years preceding its submission of the application to seek membership with HLC, and extending throughout the duration while seeking initial accreditation with HLC, the institution demonstrates a history of continuity and stability, including as to operations and control.

5. Mission Statement

The institution has a mission statement that is approved by its governing board and appropriate for a degree-granting institution of higher education. The institution’s mission identifies the nature and purpose of the higher learning provided by the institution and the students for whom it is intended.

6. Educational Programs

The institution has educational programs that are appropriate for an institution of higher education.

In appropriate proportion, the institution’s educational programs are degree-granting and involve coursework provided by the institution.

The institution clearly and publicly articulates the purposes, content and intended learning outcomes of its educational programs. It has strategies for assessment of student learning in place.

The institution:

1. maintains a minimum requirement for general education for all of its undergraduate programs whether through a traditional practice of distributed curricula (15 semester credits for AAS degrees, 24 for AS or AA degrees, and 30 for bachelor’s degrees) or through other accepted equivalent models. Any variation is explained and justified.
2. has a program of general education for all of its undergraduate programs that is grounded in a philosophy or framework developed by the institution or adopted from an established framework; and that imparts broad knowledge and skills to students.
3. conforms to commonly accepted minimum program length: 60 semester credits for associate’s degrees, 120 semester credits for bachelor’s degrees, and 30 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s for master’s degrees. Any exception is explained and justified.

7. Information to the Public

The institution makes the following information public:

1. Statements of mission, vision, and values;
2. Full descriptions of the requirements for its educational programs;
3. Requirements for admission both to the institution and to individual educational programs;
4. Policies on acceptance of transfer credit and prior learning, including how credit is applied to educational program requirements;
5. Clear and accurate information on all student costs, including tuition, fees, training and incidentals;
6. Financial aid policies, including its policy on refunds;
7. Policies regarding academic good standing, probation, and dismissal;
8. Residency and enrollment requirements;
9. Information about its relationship with any parent organization and any external providers of instruction; and
10. Complaint procedures.

The institution portrays clearly and accurately to the public its legal authorization to award degrees, offer educational programs, or conduct activities as an institution of higher education within any jurisdictions in which it so operates; and its accreditation status with HLC and any other recognized accreditors. As applicable, the institution makes clear to students the distinction between the various types of accreditation; and the relationship between licensure and these various types of accreditation.

8. Financial Capacity

The institution has the financial base to support its operations and sustain them in the future. It demonstrates a record of responsible fiscal management.

The institution:

1. has a prepared budget for the current year and the capacity to compare it with budgets and actual results of previous years; and
2. undergoes external financial audit by a certified public accountant or a public audit agencythat reports financial statements on the institution separately from any other related entity or parent corporation. For private institutions the audit is annual; for public institutions it is at least every two years. (Institutions under federal control are exempted provided that they have other reliable information to document the institution’s fiscal resources and management.)

9. Administration

The institution has a Chief Executive Officer.

The institution has governance and administrative structures that enable it to carry out its operations.

10. Faculty and Other Academic Personnel

The institution employs faculty and other academic personnel who are appropriately qualified and sufficient in number to support its educational programs.

11. Learning Resources

The institution has learning resources necessary to support its students, such as research laboratories, libraries, performance spaces, clinical practice sites, and museum collections.

12. Student Support Services

The institution has support services necessary to support its students, such as academic advising, academic records, financial aid, and career services.

13. Planning

The institution demonstrates that it engages in planning with regard to its current and future business and educational operations.

14. Policies and Procedures

The institution has appropriate policies and procedures for its students, administrators, faculty, and staff.

15. Current Activity

The institution has students enrolled in at least one degree program.

To be granted initial accreditation, an institution must have either graduated students from at least one degree program or, as further detailed in the Effective Date of Accreditation Actions policy, must be prepared to graduate students from at least one degree program within 30 days of the date on which initial accreditation is awarded.

16. Integrity of Business and Academic Operations

In general, within the two years prior to applying for membership and extending throughout the duration while seeking initial accreditation with HLC, the institution does not have a record of inappropriate, unethical, and untruthful dealings, including with its students, the public, or governmental entities. If any of the above circumstances are present, they are explained and justified so as to meet this requirement.

The institution complies with all legal requirements (including authorization of educational programs) wherever it does business.

17. Consistency of Description Among Agencies

The institution describes itself consistently to all recognized accreditors and governmental entities with regard to matters such as its mission, educational programs, governance, and finances.

18. Accreditation Record

In general, within the two years prior to applying for membership and extending throughout the duration while seeking initial accreditation with HLC:

1. The institution has not been subject to a sanction, Show-Cause Order, or other similar negative action with any recognized accreditor or state authorizing agency.
2. The institution has not been subject to an adverse action (withdrawal, suspension, denial or termination) with any recognized accreditor or state authorizing agency.
3. The institution has not voluntarily resigned its status with any recognized accreditor or state authorizing agency while subject to (a.) or (b.) or while any circumstances that would give rise to (a.) or (b.) were pending.
4. There are no pending circumstances that would give rise to (a.) or (b.).

If any of the above circumstances are present, their actual or anticipated resolution are explained and justified so as to meet this requirement.

If the institution offers educational programs that require accreditation by a recognized accreditor or recognition by a state licensing board or other entity in order for its students to be certified or to sit for licensing examinations in states where its students reside, it either has the appropriate accreditation, is in the process of seeking such accreditation, or discloses publicly and clearly the consequences of the lack thereof.

19. Good Faith and Planning to Achieve Accreditation

The institution’s board has authorized the institution to seek membership with HLC. The institution has indicated its intention to abide by the Obligations of Membership.

The institution has a realistic plan for achieving accreditation with HLC within the timeframes set by HLC policy.

Policy History

Last Revised: October 2024
First Adopted: February 2003
Revision History: June 2006, June 2011, November 2020, June 2021, February 2022, October 2024
Notes: Former policy number 1.1(c), 2013 – 1.1(e). In February 2021, references to the Higher Learning Commission as “the Commission” were replaced with the term “HLC.”