File a Complaint
HLC wants to hear your concerns about colleges and universities that we accredit. Complaints submitted by students, faculty, staff members of the public, or other stakeholders can help HLC identify issues an institution may have in meeting HLC requirements.
About HLC’s Complaint Process
The HLC complaint process:
- Is deliberative and judgment based.
- Is designed to operate in a timely, fair and equitable manner.
- Recognizes the value of information provided by stakeholders and the public.
- Helps institutions gain awareness of systemic problems and improve.
- Directs complainants to appropriate processes for grievances if the matter is not a substantive accreditation concern.
Complaints That HLC Reviews
We review complaints that indicate potential concerns regarding an institution’s ability to meet HLC requirements. In general, the matter of the complaint should have taken place within the past two years. The person who submits the complaint must also be a party to the complaint.
HLC’s policy on complaints provides a full description of the type of complaints that HLC will review.
Complaints That HLC Does Not Review
HLC’s complaint process is not designed to resolve specific disputes between individuals or between an individual and a college or university. Rather, HLC’s complaint process is intended to review matters that pertain to the institution as a whole, as related to HLC requirements.
HLC cannot:
- Intervene in disputes over transcripts, tuition, financial aid, academic progress, grades, discipline, employment or other individual matters.
- Review the outcome of an individual institutional grievance either to uphold or overturn the decision reached by the institution.
- Provide a specific individual remedy to a complaint.
- Review criminal matters.
- Provide legal advice, consultation or guidance.
See Additional Resources below for agencies that may be able to assist with matters that we do not review.
Filing a Complaint: What to Expect
You may file a complaint using the online form below or by U.S. mail using our print-friendly form. We do not accept complaints via email or phone.
When submitting a complaint, please note:
- We generally expect individuals to try to resolve personal issues through the institution’s grievance procedures, and/or other institutional processes if applicable, before submitting a complaint.
- We do not provide whistleblower protections (protection against retaliation).
- We do not accept anonymous complaints, but on the form you may indicate if you would like HLC to remove your contact information and other personally identifiable information from the complaint form. However, we do not guarantee that a complaint will remain anonymous, even if personally identifiable information is removed.
HLC’s Review Process for Complaints
HLC will initially review the complaint within 30 days after it is received. We will notify you when that initial review is complete and provide information on any next steps, if applicable.
From that point forward, HLC will address the complaint according to our established policies and procedures, as appropriate. We will be unable to provide further updates regarding the complaint.
If HLC determines that the complaint requires a response from the institution regarding HLC requirements, we will reach out to the institution. This process generally follows these steps:
- HLC will review the information provided by the institution within 30 days after it is received and make a decision regarding the complaint, including whether any additional follow-up may be appropriate under HLC policy. If further review of the institution is assigned under HLC policy, that information will be posted to the institution’s Statement of Accreditation Status in our Directory of Institutions.
- HLC will forward the complaint to the institution for review and response.
- The institution will generally have 30 days to respond to the complaint in writing.
Additional Resources
Certain state or federal agencies may provide assistance with matters involving:
- Potential unlawful discrimination: U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
- Federal student loans or loan servicers: Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group
- Compliance with federal regulations: Federal Student Aid Office of Enforcement
- Consumer complaints: the appropriate state attorney general or the Federal Trade Commission
State higher education authorities may also accept complaints for certain matters.
Complaints involving potential criminal matters should be directed to the proper law enforcement agency.
HLC cannot provide legal advice, consultation or guidance. Complainants should contact an attorney for legal matters.