Accreditation
COCC Accreditation Reaffirmed
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities reaffirmed COCC's accreditation status, following an extensive review that concluded in June 2020. COCC accreditation runs through Spring 2027.
Statement of Accreditation Status
Central Oregon Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding an institution’s accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
(425)558-4224
www.nwccu.org
Some COCC programs have specialized accreditation relevant to their professional affiliations.
As noted on the NWCCU website: "Regional accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental, self-regulatory process of quality assurance and institutional improvement. It recognizes [COCC] for performance, integrity and quality to merit the confidence of the educational community and the public. Accreditation or pre-accreditation by a post-secondary, regional accrediting agency qualifies [COCC] and enrolled students for access to federal funds to support teaching, research and student financial aid."
