UC Accreditation

Accreditation is the process whereby an outside organization certifies a college or university as meeting certain requirements of excellence. Accreditation is an important “stamp of approval,” accredited colleges and universities prove to their peers that they are deeply committed to educational quality and improvement. The designation serves as public recognition that an institution has met accepted standards of academic quality.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region, which includes 19 states. The mission of the Higher Learning Commission is to "serve the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher learning.

University of Cincinnati's review will be carried out through the HLC Open Pathway process. The University is currently accredited by the Higher Learning Commission with the most recent reaffirmation of accreditation received in 2018. Reaccreditation is conducted on a ten-year cycle. This process includes writing an Assurance Argument, demonstrating Federal Compliance, and hosting a site visit by a team of reviewers comprised of faculty and staff from other universities with similar missions. As part of the Assurance Review, the institution submits an Assurance Argument - along with materials of evidence - explaining how the institution complies with each Criterion and Core Component. The peer review team also uses the Assurance System to conduct its review of the materials.

Download the final version of UC's HLC Assurance Argument that was submitted to the Higher Learning Commission for review.