The Accreditation Relationship
HLC Requirements and Policies
We partner with our member institutions and other stakeholders to define policies for quality higher education.
Accreditation Cycles and Processes
As an institutional accreditor, HLC evaluates all aspects of an institution’s offerings and operations. We do this through different types of reviews conducted by HLC staff or peer reviewers. Each review concludes with a decision-making process that prioritizes due process and transparency.
Accreditation Activities During the 10-Year Pathway Cycle
A typical timeline of required activities for accredited institutions on HLC’s Standard or Open Pathway for Reaffirmation of Accreditation. For a print-friendly version, see page 18 of the 2026 Resource Guide.
Note: Candidate institutions or institutions placed on Probation, issued a Show-Cause Order or subject to an adverse action do not follow the cycle shown here.
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Evaluation of financial, non-financial and student success indicators | ||||||||||
Assurance Review or comprehensive evaluation | ||||||||||
Open Pathway only. Replaces Year 4 Assurance Review for eligible institutions that choose this option. | Occurs during Years 1–4 | |||||||||
Open Pathway only | Occurs during Years 5–9 | |||||||||
Only institutions with 3+ active additional locations | ||||||||||
At any point, institutions may undergo additional reviews related to:
Begin Your Accreditation Journey
Colleges and universities in the United States may be eligible to seek accreditation with HLC.
Status and Stipulations
An institution’s status and stipulations describe its relationship to HLC. The status indicates whether an institution is accredited or a candidate for accreditation. Stipulations describe certain approvals or limitations on an institution’s development of new programs or other activities.
Dues and Fees
HLC bills member institutions for annual dues, as well as additional fees for some evaluation processes and other activities.
People
Institutional Representatives
HLC works with institutions’ executive leaders and those who lead accreditation work on campus.
HLC Staff Liaison
An institution’s assigned HLC staff liaison is their first point of contact and primary support at HLC.
Peer Reviewers
HLC’s dedicated, volunteer peer reviewers evaluate how institutions apply our requirements on campus and provide guidance to help institutions improve.
Decision-Making Bodies
Peer reviewers and members of the public evaluate and take action on recommendations from peer reviewers and staff concerning institutional reviews.
Learning Opportunities
HLC offers in-person and virtual events, instructional guides and other resources to help institutions prepare for evaluations and pursue institutional improvement.