Statement of Accreditation Status

as of November 3, 2025

Western Technical College

400 Seventh Street North
PO Box C-0908
La Crosse, WI 54602-0908
(608) 785-9210
https://www.westerntc.edu/

*Previous names: Institution name changed from Western Wisconsin Technical Institute to Western Wisconsin Technical College. (1987); Institution name changed from Western Wisconsin Technical College to Western Technical College. (2006)

The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). General information about HLC and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document.

Accreditation Information

Current status: Accredited

Status Dates
Candidate 04/08/1970 - 03/21/1972
Accredited 03/22/1972 - Present

Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2024 - 2025

Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2034 - 2035

Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews

Date Event Description
2028 - 2029 Assurance Review
2034 - 2035 Comprehensive Evaluation

Most Recent History With HLC

Note: This list does not include all accreditation activities.

Date Event Outcome
01/06/2025 Comprehensive Evaluation Reaffirm Accreditation
01/10/2023 Substantive Change Request - Contractual Arrangement Request Denied
11/15/2021 Substantive Change Request - Change in Clock or Credit Hours Request Approved
11/15/2021 Substantive Change Request - Change in Clock or Credit Hours Request Approved
09/15/2020 Substantive Change Request - Direct Assessment Request Approved
03/09/2015 Quality Checkup Continue Accreditation
03/24/2014 Substantive Change Request - Notification Program for Additional Locations Request Approved

Student Success Outcomes

Student outcome information, including graduation rates and other measures, is available on the institution’s website and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator and, for institutions that enroll undergraduate students, College Scorecard.

Note: The College Navigator and College Scorecard links will take you to information about the institution's main campus. Some colleges or universities may report separate information on these websites for certain divisions or branch campuses. Search these sites to find this additional information.

Institutional Characteristics

Please note: All institutions are required to represent themselves accurately and consistently to multiple agencies. Information about the institution that is published by other agencies may appear differently, depending on the timing of the institution's updates to those agencies or those agencies' definitions or standards. For example, an institution's control may be categorized differently by the U.S. Department of Education for other purposes under its standards.

Control

Public

Educational Programs Offered

  • Associate's
  • Certificate Programs

Campuses and Additional Locations

Approved Campuses and Additional Locations

The institution's accreditation includes courses and programs offered at the campuses and additional locations listed below. This list includes campuses and locations that are active and inactive (i.e., not currently enrolling students).

Last updated: 10/30/2025

Main Campus

400 Seventh Street North PO Box C-0908, La Crosse, WI 54602-0908

In-State

Branch Campuses

None

Additional Locations

Apprenticeship and Industry Training Center - 2860 21st Place South, La Crosse, WI, 54601
Arcadia High School - 756 Raider Dr., Arcadia, WI, 54612
Black River Falls High School - 1200 Pierce St., Black River Falls, WI, 54615
Blair-Taylor High School - N31024 Elland Road, Blair, WI, 54616
Cashton High School - 540 Coe St., Cashton, WI, 54619
Fort McCoy - 1680 W. Eaton Rd., Sparta, WI, 54656
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School - 17511 Main Street, Galesville, WI, 54630
Gross Motors - 1011 Commerce Dr., Black River Falls, WI, 54615
Health Science Center - 1300 Badger Street, La Crosse, WI, 54601
Holmen High School - 1001 McHugh Rd., Holmen, WI, 54636
Independence Regional Learning Center - 36084 Walnut Street, Independence, WI, 54747-9066
Jackson Correctional Institute - N6500 Haipek Rd., Black River Falls, WI, 54615
La Crosse Central High School - 1801 Losey Boulevard South, La Crosse, WI, 54601
La Crosse County Jail - 333 Vine St., La Crosse, WI, 54601
La Crosse Regional Airport - 2850 Airport Drive, La Crosse, WI, 54603
Mauston High School - 800 Grayside Ave, Mauston, WI, 53948
Mauston Regional Learning Center - 1000 College Avenue, Mauston, WI, 53948-2006
Melrose-Mindoro High School - N181 State Road 108, Melrose, WI, 54642
Morrow Home Community - 331 South Water St., Sparta, WI, 54656
New Lisbon Correctional Institution - 2000 Progress Rd., New Lisbon, WI, 53950
Onalaska High School - 700 Hilltopper Dr., Onalaska, WI, 54650
Robert Kupper Learning Center - 1310 Townline Rd., Tomah, WI, 54660
Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center - 1111 N Road, Mauston, WI, 53948
Scenic Valley Emergency Medical Service - 102 East 5th Street, Cochrane, WI, 54622
Sleepy Hollow - 1225 N. Main St., Viroqua, WI, 54665
Sparta High School - 506 N. Black River St., Sparta, WI, 54656
Sparta Public Safety Training Facility - 11177 County Road A, Sparta, WI, 54656-0000
Tomah High School - 901 Lincoln Ave., Tomah, WI, 54660
Tomah Public Safety Facility - 400 N Glendale Ave, Tomah, WI, 54660
Tomah Regional Learning Center - 120 East Milwaukee Street, Tomah, WI, 54660
Tri-County Whitehall High School - 18601 Lincoln St., Whitehall, WI, 54773
Vehicle Technology Center - 2719 Larson Street, La Crosse, WI, 54603
Viroqua Regional Learning Center - 220 South Main, Viroqua, WI, 54665-1650
West Salem High School - 490 N. Mark St., West Salem, WI, 54669
Westby High School - 206 West Avenue South, Westby, WI, 54667
Western Technical College Black River Falls - 24 Fillmore Street, Black River Falls, WI, 54615
Whitehall Memorial High School - 19121 Hobson St., Whitehall, WI, 54773
Out-of-State

Branch Campuses

None

Additional Locations

None

International

Branch Campuses

None

Additional Locations

None

HLC's Notification Program for Additional Locations

Institutions that meet certain eligibility criteria may apply to participate in HLC's Notification Program for Additional Locations. This program allows institutions to open new locations after notifying HLC and receiving confirmation that the location has been added to our records, rather than applying for approval through the standard substantive change process.

Participation Status

The institution participates in the Notification Program for Additional Locations.

About HLC and Accreditation

HLC is an institutional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in the United States.

Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC's accreditation includes all degree levels as well as on-site and online course delivery. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through specialized or programmatic accreditation agencies, which accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.

Evaluation Process

Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation and other HLC requirements. HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets threshold requirements and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to report data annually in the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices.

The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Faculty and staff from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. They make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies, which take final action on institutional evaluations.

Decision Making

HLC's decision-making bodies evaluate and make decisions, called actions, on recommendations from peer reviewers and staff that review institutions for their compliance with HLC's Criteria for Accreditation and other requirements. The decision-making bodies are comprised of institutional representatives and public members. See Decision-Making Bodies and Processes for more information.

Public Information

HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.

Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution's accreditation status are disclosed to the public. In cases of reaffirming continued accreditation, placing an institution on or reviewing a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available on the institution's Statement of Accreditation Status, found by searching the institution's name through HLC's online directory. Public Disclosure Notices (PDNs) are also issued and posted in the directory in cases of sanction, assigning or removing an institutional designation, resignation of accreditation or candidacy, institutional closing or withdrawal of accreditation by HLC. The PDN provides the public with the most applicable information from the posted Action Letter. HLC decision-making outcomes also are summarized on the HLC Accreditation Actions page.

Complaints Against Institutions

HLC has a formal complaint process, consisting of an online complaint form for faculty, students and other parties to submit information regarding a member institution’s potential non-compliance with HLC requirements. As stated in HLC policy, the complaints process is designed to enable HLC to review, in a timely and fair manner, information that suggests potential substantive non-compliance with an institution's ability to meet HLC requirements.