Accreditation Status

College of the Desert is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); 428 J Street, Suite 400; Sacramento, CA 98514, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Accreditation is granted for an unlimited period of time, with a standard provision for an institutional self-study every eight years, along with review and visitation by a peer review team. Accreditation is granted on the basis of demonstrated evidence that the institution is fulfilling its stated goals and objectives through qualified personnel, sound planning, appropriate programs and services, and adequate resources.

The accreditation review process includes opportunity for submission of third-party comments. Such comments must be submitted in writing and include contact information (name, address, phone number, email address) of the correspondent. ACCJC accepts comments related to an institution’s compliance with Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, and Commission policies at any time. Third-party comments associated with the self-evaluation review cycle must be received by the ACCJC no later than five weeks before scheduled Commission consideration. The form for submitting third-party comment is available on the ACCJC website.

At its January 8-9, 2025, meeting, the Commission acted to reaffirm College of the Desert's accreditation status for 18 months and require a follow-up report due no later than March 1, 2026, followed by a visit from a peer review team.

For information on our most recent accreditation, please contact the President's Office at 760.773.2500.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a system of voluntary peer review that is unique to American educational institutions. The quality assurance process is achieved as institutions collectively set standards for good practice, conduct peer-based evaluations on a regular basis, confer accredited status on institutions, and make the results of accreditation review known to the public. It is a process by which accreditors provide students and the public with assurances of institutional integrity, quality, and effectiveness.

Whether a college, university, or program is accredited is important:

• Students who want federal (and sometimes state) grants and loans need to attend a college, university, or program that is accredited.
• Employers ask if a college, university, or program is accredited before deciding to provide tuition assistance to current employees, evaluating the credentials of new employees, or making a charitable contribution.
• The federal government requires that a college, university, or program be accredited in order to be eligible for federal grants and loans or other federal funds.
• State governments require that a college, university, or program be accredited when they make state funds available to students or institutions and when they allow students to sit for state licensure examinations in some professional fields.