Effective September 1, 2023
For Fiscal Year 2023, NWCCU is implementing the new dues model and increase in travel fees, approved in June 2023 by the Board of Commissioners.
NWCCU utilizes financial information on E&G expenditures plus auxiliary services provided by US institutions or audited financial information provided by Canadian institutions in the institutional Annual Report as the basis of the annual dues.
Please note that invoices over $1,000 not paid within 60 days of the date of invoice are subject to a late fee of 1% per month. Invoices $1,000 or lower not paid within 60 days of the date of invoice are subject to a late fee of $25 per month.
Definition of Educational and General Expenditures for Determining Annual Institutional Dues
E&G Exp. + Auxiliary | 2023-2024 |
Under $10M | $5,500 |
$10 – 20M | $11,100 |
$20 – 30M | $15,700 |
$30 – 50M | $19,150 |
$50 – 100M | $21,400 |
$100 – 200M | $23,800 |
$200 – 500M | $26,200 |
$500 – 1,000M | $29,800 |
Over $1,000M | $34,500 |
Fees for Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness
Institutions to undergo Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness will be evaluated by a team of peer evaluators and will be accompanied by an NWCCU Staff Liaison. Please see table below for schedule of evaluation visit fees for domestic and international institutions. Institutions will be billed and must pay the evaluation fees in advance of the evaluation visit.
Fees for Year Six Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review
For Year Six Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review (PRFR), institutions will undergo a virtual evaluation by a team of peer evaluators with background in areas such as policies, regulations, finance, student support services, human resources, library, information systems and technology, and infrastructure. Please see table below for schedule of PRFR evaluation fees for domestic and international institutions. Institutions will be billed and must pay the evaluation fees in advance of the evaluation of the Year Six PRFR report.
Fees for Mid-Cycle Review and Ad Hoc, Special, and Financial Resources Review Visits
Institutions that undergo Mid-Cycle Review or Ad Hoc, Special, and Financial Resources Review (FRR) Visits will be evaluated by a team of peer evaluators. Please see table below for schedule of evaluation visit fees for domestic and international institutions. Institutions will be billed and must pay the evaluation fees in advance of the evaluation visit.
NWCCU Schedule of Fees
(Effective September 1, 2023)
Fees for North American Institutions (US $) | Fees for International Institutions (US $) | |
Eligibility Review | ||
Application Inquiry | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Application for Candidate for Accreditation
| $7,500 plus $2,400 for travel by NWCCU Staff Liaison Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to institutions outside the traditional NWCCU region | $7,500 plus $2,400 for travel by NWCCU Staff Liaison Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to international institutions |
Application for Sponsored or Stewarded Candidate for Accreditation
| $7,500 plus $2,400 for travel by NWCCU Staff Liaison Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to institutions outside the traditional NWCCU region | $7,500 plus $2,400 for travel by NWCCU Staff Liaison Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to international institutions |
Initial Candidacy Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators and NWCCU Liaison Note: Branch campus and additional locations, including international locations, to be visited will have additional charges; contact NWCCU Liaison | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator $2,500 for NWCCU Liaison plus $2,400 for travel Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel by evaluators and NWCCU Staff Liaison to institutions outside the traditional NWCCU region | $5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator $5,000 for NWCCU Liaison plus $2,400 for travel Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to international institutions |
Interim Candidacy Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators and NWCCU Liaison (One or More Visits) Note: Branch campus and additional locations, including international locations, to be visited will have additional charges; contact NWCCU Liaison | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator $2,500 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 for travel Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel by evaluators and NWCCU Staff Liaison to institutions outside the traditional NWCCU region | $5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator $5,000 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to international institutions |
Initial Accreditation Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators and NWCCU Liaison Note: Branch campus and additional locations to be visited will have additional charges; contact NWCCU Liaison | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator $2,500 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 for travel Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel by evaluators and NWCCU Staff Liaison to institutions outside the traditional NWCCU region | $5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator $5,000 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to international institutions |
Evaluation Visits (Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness) | ||
Member Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators Note: Branch campus and additional locations, including international locations, to be visited will have additional charges; contact NWCCU Liaison | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator $2,500 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 for travel Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel by evaluators and NWCCU Staff Liaison to institutions outside the traditional NWCCU region | $5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator $5,000 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to international institutions |
Evaluation Visits (Mid-Cycle; Ad-hoc and Special) | ||
Member Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators Note: Branch campus and additional locations, including international locations, to be visited will have additional charges; contact NWCCU Liaison | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to institutions outside the traditional NWCCU region | $5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator Note: A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to international institutions |
Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review* | ||
Member Year Six PRFR Evaluation | $500 | $500 |
NWCCU Liaison Visits | ||
Candidate and Member Campus Visit by NWCCU Liaison | $4,500 Includes $2,100 visit fees and $2,400 to cover travel | $5,000 plus actual travel cost |
Reports | ||
Special Reports Without Visit, including Financial Resources Review | $500 | $500 |
Substantive Changes | |
No fee (Minor Change) | Adding courses or academic program(s), including Title IV-eligible certificate programs not related to existing degree program(s), that do not represent a significant departure (25% difference in program core) from program(s) previously approved Review Level: Notification Suspending, terminating, or placing into moratorium, existing academic program or major(s) of 30 semester or 45 quarter credits or more in length (within approved degree level) Review Level: Notification Closing or suspending for more than one semester or two quarters of an existing additional location or a branch campus Review Level: Notification Combining two programs to create a new program and where the two programs have been previously approved Review Level: Notification |
$1000 (Minor Change) | Adding courses or academic program(s), including Title IV-eligible certificate programs not related to existing degree program(s), that represent a significant departure (25% difference in program core) from program(s) previously approved Review Level: Staff Initiating or expanding distance education delivery where 50% or more of the courses or credits in an academic program are provided using distance delivery (First three programs only) Review Level: Staff Substantially increasing the number of clock or credit hours awarded for successful completion of a program (more than 25% of total program credits or clock hours) Review Level: Staff Establishing an additional location where 50% or more of program requirements can be earned via face-to-face instructional delivery Review Level: Staff |
$1500 (Major Change) | Dual Degree Program Entering into a consortial agreement under which an institution accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education provides a significant portion of the academic program a. 24% or less of the credits in a degree or certificate program delivered by the consortial partner(s)b. 25-50% of one or more of the institution’s educational programs provided by the consortium or other accredited institution c. More than 50% of one or more of the institution’s educational programs provided by the consortium or other accredited institution Review Level: a. No requirement Initiating or expanding Competency-Based Education (CBE) delivery where 50% or more of the courses or credits in an academic program are provided using competency-based or direct assessment learning. (First three programs: 1st program Panel Review; 2nd and 3rd programs Staff Review) Review Level: Panel or Staff Joint Degree Program Review Level: Panel Establishing an additional location at either an international location or location outside the institution’s region where 50% or more of the program requirement can be earned via face-to-face instructional delivery (First three locations only) Review Level: Panel Establishing a new branch campus, including one established or acquired in order to provide for teach-out from another institution Review Level: Panel Changing from clock to credit hours or vice versa Review Level: Staff Adding the first academic program at a degree or credential level not previously included in the institution’s accreditation by NWCCU (2nd and 3rd programs at the new degree level or credential are reviewed by Staff) Review Level: Panel or Staff Substantially changing institutional mission or objectives Review Level: Panel, Executive Committee, or Commission |
$10,000 (Major Change) | Changing legal status, form of control, or ownership Review Level: Panel, Executive Committee, or Commission |
$20,000 (Major Change) | Acquiring or merging with another institution or any program or location of another institution Review Level: Panel, Executive Committee, or Commission |
Expedited Processing | |
$1000 | Expedite via staff review (2 week processing) |
$2000 | Expedite via Panel review (12 week processing) |
The Commission is committed to analyzing the substantive change fee structure every year and revising only as needed.
Please note that invoices over $1,000 not paid within 60 days of the date of invoice are subject to a late fee of 1% per month.
Invoices $1,000 or lower not paid within 60 days of the date of invoice are subject to a late fee of $25 per month.