Accreditation

Institutional Accreditation

Students at Ridgewater can be confident in their education knowing the College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission [HLC]. The HLC is an independent organization recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as one of six regional institutional accrediting agencies in the United States.

This accreditation ensures Ridgewater’s academic program quality and regulatory compliance. It also enables students to participate in federal student aid programs.

Specialized Accreditation

Whereas institutional accreditation applies to the entire institution, specialized accreditation applies to the quality of programs and departments that are part of the institution.

Some Ridgewater programs maintain specialized accreditation through specialized accrediting agencies. These agencies are recognized by the Council for Higher Education and/or the United States Department of Education. Learn more about specialized accreditation.