Dues and Fees Schedule: Fiscal Year 2023–24
Formula for Computing Member Dues
Dues schedule effective July 1, 2023. Invoices sent to institutions the last week of June 2023.
Base Dues
$4,750
HLC’s annual dues are set to distribute the cost of maintaining accreditation evenly over each Pathway for Reaffirmation of Accreditation cycle. In this system, no base fees are assessed for the following evaluations:
- Open Pathway: Assurance Review, Quality Initiative and comprehensive evaluation
- Standard Pathway: comprehensive evaluations
Note: Institutions will still be billed for expenses related to peer review team visits when they are required as part of these evaluations. Team expenses typically include travel, honoraria and facility expenses. If a multi-campus visit is required as part of the comprehensive evaluation, a visit fee will apply.
FTE Dues
$0.70 x ([number of full-time students] + [1/3 the number of part-time students])
The number of full- and part-time students at all institutions is determined using IPEDS definitions based on the most recent fall data.
Off-Campus Activity Dues
$100 x ([number of additional locations] + [number of branch campuses x 10])
The number of additional locations includes degree completion locations, and the number of branch campuses does not include the main campus. However, for multi-campus institutions with no main campus, all campuses are included in the calculation. Definitions for branch campuses and additional locations are available in HLC’s Glossary.
Fees Schedule
Effective September 1, 2023. Where noted below, expenses typically include travel, lodging, meals and honoraria for peer review team members conducting an on-site visit.
Standard and Open Pathways
Assurance ReviewTeam honoraria (evaluation fee included in member dues) |
Comprehensive EvaluationTeam expenses (evaluation fee included in member dues) |
Multi-campus Visit (per campus)
$750 + expenses |
Quality Initiative ProposalIncluded in member dues |
Quality Initiative ReportIncluded in member dues |
Substantive Change, Including Change of Control
Additional Location Confirmation Visit$750 + expenses |
Campus Evaluation Visit$3,800 + expenses |
Change Panel$1,075 |
Change Visit$3,800 + expenses |
Desk Review$1,075 |
Embedded Change Request$1,075 |
For the following types of changes, institutions can submit multiple requests at the same time for a single fee:
- Certificate programs: HLC will charge a single desk review fee for every 10 applications submitted at the same time.
- Additional locations: Institutions in the Notification Program for Additional Locations will be charged a single desk review fee for every 10 applications submitted at the same time. Institutions that are not in the Notification Program can include up to three additional locations in a single substantive change application.
Change of Control, Structure or Organization
Initial Interaction$5,750 |
Change of Control EvaluationChange of Control Panel: $7,250 (no additional fees) |
1Fees applied in addition to the Initial Interaction for Change of Control, Structure or Organization and HLC determination of type of review required.
Multi-location Visit
Multi-location Visit (per additional location)$750 + expenses |
Monitoring
Advisory Visit$3,800 + expenses |
Financial Panel Report$600 |
Focused Visit$3,800 + expenses |
Interim Report$600 |
Non-financial Panel Report$600 |
Sanctions and Show-Cause Orders
Notice Report$600 |
Notice Visit$7,650 + expenses |
Probation Visit$7,650 + expenses |
Show-Cause Evaluation Visit$7,650 + expenses |
Seeking Accreditation
Eligibility Process
Application Fee$6,500 |
Eligibility Interview$3,250 |
Letter of Intent to Submit Eligibility Filing$6,500 |
Eligibility FilingFiling: $6,500Filing Revision: $1,100 |
Candidacy
Letter of Intent to Pursue Candidacy$6,500 |
Comprehensive Evaluation for Candidacy$7,650 + expenses |
Biennial Evaluation$3,800 + expenses |
Comprehensive Evaluation for Initial Accreditation$7,650 + expenses |
Accelerated Process for Initial Accreditation
Application Fee$5,000 |
Preliminary Peer Review$10,000 |
Comprehensive Evaluation for Initial Accreditation$7,650 + expenses Note: The application fee will be credited against the comprehensive evaluation for initial accreditation, bringing the cost of the evaluation to $2,650 + expenses. |
Hearings and Appeals
Appeal Panel Hearing$6,000 + expenses + (legal and consultancy expenses + 15%)Requires a $40,000 deposit |
Arbitration Hearing$6,000 + expenses + (legal and consultancy expenses + 15%)Requires a $40,000 deposit |
Board Committee Hearing$6,000 + expenses + (legal and consultancy expenses + 15%)Requires a $20,000 deposit |
Institutional Actions Council Hearing$6,000 |
Other Visits
HLC Staff Campus Visit$750 + expenses |
Pre-visit by Team Chair (per location)$750 + expenses |
Other Fees
Other Legal and Consultancy Costs Related to Accreditation Activity and Legal InquiriesActual expenses + 15% |
Late Payment Fee on Past-Due Balances10% of total past-due amount at 90+ days |
