The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) requires that every member, applicant, and candidate institution be a degree-granting institution whose mission is focused on excellence in higher education and meets the Eligibility Requirements described in this section.
Failure to meet any Eligibility Requirement may lead to the imposition of a sanction or adverse action for a member institution, denial of application for candidacy, or denial of initial accreditation.
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) accredits institutions that:
The principal programs of eligible institutions are degree related and built upon knowledge and competencies normally obtained by students through a completed high school program or its equivalent. Such programs are based on verifiable knowledge that has been subjected to examination by competent academic persons and by established higher education practitioners. Although diversity of requirements is expected among Candidate and Accredited institutions, course and degree requirements of an Applicant institution must also be congruent with those of the broader higher education community that the Commission represents.
Eligible institutions may offer programs or courses that the Commission would not define as higher learning (e.g., subject-based courses that some students may have missed in high school and courses and special programs specifically constructed to assist students to be successful with college-level coursework), but these are offered in addition to the courses and programs relevant to their higher education missions.