2016-2023 Accreditation

Los Angeles Pierce College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at www.accjc.org.

A third-party comment assists the Commission as it considers applications for candidacy, accreditation, or reaffirmation of accreditation. You can file your third-part comment here.

Students and members of the public who desire to file a formal complaint to the Commission about one of its member institutions should become familiar with the requirements for doing so prior to contacting the Commission. You can learn about them here.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is a both an evaluative process and seal of approval for institutions of higher education:

Accreditation is a voluntary system of self regulation developed to evaluate overall educational quality and institutional effectiveness (The Commission’s complete Purpose Statement is available in Article I, section 2 of its Bylaws). The ACCJC accreditation process provides assurance to the public that the accredited member colleges meet the Standards; the education earned at the institutions is
of value to the student who earned it; and employers, trade or profession-related licensing agencies, and other colleges and universities can accept a student’s credential as legitimate. (www.ACCJC.org)

ACCJC logo

What is the ACCJC?

ACCJC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as a reliable authority regarding the quality of education offered by the institutions it accredits in keeping with the Higher Education Act of 1965. ACCJC is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which has established criteria that define a quality review system for accrediting agencies.

ACCJC accredits institutions in the United States, its territories and affiliates, with a primary mission of granting associate degrees; institutions accredited by ACCJC may also award certificates and other credentials, including bachelor’s degrees, if those credentials are within the institution’s mission and authorized by their governmental authorities. ACCJC may also accredit non-domestic institutions with a primary mission of granting associate degrees.

 

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