Accreditation

UC Accreditation


The University of Cincinnati (UC) and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Additionally, UC is an Ohio Public Institution, and each of its programs are approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE).

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a process used to ensure that an institution meets the standards of quality necessary in higher education. Institutions agree upon those minimum standards in order to establish the criteria for accreditation. Accrediting agencies then facilitate a review process, including peer evaluation, to ensure that the institutions meet those standards. Every accredited institution must provide evidence that it continues to meet these standards and delivers a high quality educational experience for its students. This important process requires that institutions prove to their peers that they are deeply committed to educational quality and continuous improvement.

What is the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)?

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of seven regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to act on its behalf as an institutional accrediting agency. The mission of the HLC is to "advance the common good through quality assurance of higher education as the leader in equitable, transformative and trusted accreditation in the service of students and member institutions.”

What is the Process for Accreditation?

The University of Cincinnati maintains its HLC accreditation through the 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 of the criteria for accreditation.

Why is attending an accredited college or university important?

There are many good reasons to attend an accredited institution, including:

  • Quality Education: accredited colleges and universities deliver high-quality educational programs.
  • Financial Aid: schools must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to process student financial aid.
  • Transfer: most schools will only accept transfer credits from an accredited institution.
  • Graduate School: most graduate programs will only accept students with degrees from accredited institution.

Previous Reviews

In Fall 2022, UC successfully completed its Year 4 Assurance Review with no recommended monitoring. This review is conducted to ensure that the institution remains in compliance with the criteria for accreditation and assumed practices. UC updated its Assurance Argument which was then evaluated by a team of peer reviewers.

In September 2018, the University successfully underwent its reaffirmation of accreditation, a rigorous process that occurs every ten years.

In 2009, UC was approved for continued accreditation following a comprehensive evaluation. Below are documents prepared by the university and evaluated by our peer review. 

Academic Program Accrediting Organizations

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
College Program Standing
Carl H. Lindner College of Business  All Programs Accredited
American Bar Association (ABA)
College Program Standing
College of Law  Juris Doctorate Accredited
UC Clermont Associate of Applied Business in Law and Paralegal Studies Accredited
UC Clermont Certificate in Law and Paralegal Studies Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Paralegal Studies, BS Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Certificate in Paralegal Studies Accredited
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
College Program Standing
College of Engineering and Applied Science Aerospace Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Architectural Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Biomedical Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Chemical Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Civil Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Computer Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Computer Science, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Construction Management, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Electrical Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Electrical Engineering Technology, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Environmental Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Mechanical Engineering, BS Accredited
College of Engineering and Applied Science Mechanical Engineering Technology, BS Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Information Technology, BSIT Accredited
College of Medicine Environmental Health: Industrial Hygiene, MS Accredited
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
College Program Standing
UC Blue Ash Associate of Applied Science, Nursing Technology Accredited
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
College Program Standing
College of Allied Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics, BS Accredited
College of Allied Health Sciences Associate of Applied Science, Nursing Technology Accredited
Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC)
College Program Standing
College of Medicine Genetic Counseling, MS Accredited
     
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
College Program Standing
College of Medicine Occupational Medicine Residency Accredited
Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)
College Program Standing
College of Nursing Master of Science in Nurse Midwifery Accredited
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
College Program Standing
College of Allied Health Sciences Master of Occupational Therapy Accredited
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
College Program Standing
James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Accredited
American Chemical Society (ACS)
College Program Standing
Arts & Science BS in Chemistry with ACS Certification Accredited
American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)
College Program Standing
College of Allied Health Sciences Master's Degree in Speech Language Pathology Accredited
College of Allied Health Sciences Clinical Entry-Level Doctoral Degree Audiology Accredited
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
College Program Standing
College of Allied Health Sciences Master of Science in Athletic Training Seeking Initial Accreditation
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
College
Program Standing
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Counselor Education and Supervision, Doctoral Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services School Counseling, M.Ed Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Mental Health Counseling, MA Accredited
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
College
Program Standing
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Curriculum & Instruction M.Ed Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Special Education M.Ed Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Middle Childhood Education, BSED Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Secondary Education, BSED Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Special Education, BSED Accredited
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC)
College
Program Standing
College of Allied Heath Sciences Respiratory Therapy, BS Accredited
UC Clermont Associate of Applied Science Degree in Respiratory Care Accredited
Commission on Dental Association (CODA)
College
Program Standing
UC Blue Ash Dental Hygiene, AAS Accredited
UC Medical Center Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Accredited
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
College
Program Standing
College of Allied Heath Sciences Bachelor of Social Work Accredited
College of Allied Heath Sciences  Master of Social Work  Accredited
Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
College
Program Standing
College of Medicine Medical Education Fellowship Accredited
National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB)
College
Program Standing
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Master of Architecture Accredited
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
College
Program Standing
College of Allied Heath Sciences Medical Laboratory Science Program Accredited
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
College
Program Standing
UC Blue Ash Associate in Applied Graphic Communication Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Bachelor of Arts in Art History Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Bachelor of Science in Design - Fashion Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Bachelor of Science in Design - Industrial Design Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Bachelor of Science in Interior Design Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Bachelor of Fine Arts - Art Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Master of Arts in Art Education Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Master of Design Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Master of Fine Arts - Art Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Bachelor of Science in Communication Design Accredited
National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD)
College
Program Standing
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Arts in Dance Accredited
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
College
Program Standing
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Arts in Music Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music Production Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Music in Composition Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Music in Music Education Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Music in Performance Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Artist Diploma in Instrumental Music Performance (Graduate) Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Artist Diploma in Opera Vocal Performance (Graduate) Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Artist Diploma in Piano or Harpsichord Performance (Graduate) Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music in Collaborative Piano Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music in Composition Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music in Conducting Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music in Jazz Studies Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music Education (MME) Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music (MM) in Music Education Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music in Musicology Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music in Performance Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Music in Theory Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Doctor of Musical Arts in Literature and Performance Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Doctor of Philosophy in Music Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Performance Certificate in Strings (Graduate) Accredited
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
College
Program Standing
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services EdS in School Psychology Accredited
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services PhD in School Psychology Accredited
National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST)
College
Program Standing
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Production  Accredited
College-Conservatory of Music Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Production  Accredited
National Fire Academy (NFA/FEMA)
College
Program Standing
College of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Fire And Safety Engineering Technology Accredited
Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN)
College
Program Standing
UC Blue Ash Associate of Applied Science, Nursing Technology Accredited
Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)
College
Program Standing
College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning Master of Community Planning Accredited
College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning Bachelor of Urban Planning Accredited