Accreditations

RCTC is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Rochester Community and Technical College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional accrediting agencies in the U.S.

As stated by HLC, “Regional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution ranging from its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources.”

The HLC has three “pathways” an institution can follow to demonstrate institutional quality. All pathways require institutions to show that they meet the Criteria for Accreditation.

Accreditation History

• Community/Junior College initial accreditation with Higher Learning Commission (formerly North Central Association) – 1923
• Technical College initial accreditation with candidacy status from Higher Learning Commission (formerly North Central Association) – 1993

Reaffirmation Timeline

• Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation:  2016-2017
• Comprehensive Evaluation: November 9, 2020
• Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2026-2027

RCTC also holds occupationally specific accreditation in a number of its programs.

What Accreditation Means to You

When you attend an accredited college or university, you can expect:

• A Quality Education: Accreditation means that the institution meets standards of quality for faculty, curriculum, administration, library, financial management and student services.
• Financial Aid Opportunities: You can only obtain federal financial assistance if the institution has appropriate accreditation from an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.
• Credits that Transfer: If you ever want to transfer your college credits to continue your education, accreditation is an important factor when a college or university is deciding whether to accept transfer credits from your previous school.