Accreditation
South Seattle College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The NWCCU is the institutional accrediting agency for colleges and universities in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is recognized as a reliable authority on regional, institutional accreditation by the United States Department of Education.
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding an institution’s accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052-3981
(425) 558-4224
www.nwccu.org
Overview
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) oversees a seven-year cycle of evaluation in Northwest Colleges and Universities to ensure educational quality and institutional effectiveness. South Seattle College has been accredited by the NWCCU since our initial review in 1975.
As part of this process, a NWCCU team visited South in April 2019 to conduct the Year Seven Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability Evaluation. The college received several commendations highlighting strengths in Guided Pathways, innovation, student success, and equity and inclusion efforts. At the same time, the Commission issued recommendations related to assessment of student learning, outcomes transparency, policy review, and financial audit practices.
Following the 2019 evaluation, the NWCCU Board reaffirmed South Seattle College’s accreditation and requested follow-up reports to address the recommendations.
In Spring 2022, South Seattle College completed a successful Mid-Cycle Review and site visit, which confirmed progress in several areas while identifying the need for continued improvement in assessment of student learning outcomes.
Most recently, in March 2024, the college submitted a Special Report to address ongoing work in this area. In June 2024, the NWCCU Board accepted the report and continued accreditation. The Commission noted progress but emphasized that additional improvement is still needed in one area:
Recommendation 1 (Spring 2024 Special Report):
South Seattle College must “fully implement an effective system of assessment to evaluate the quality of learning in its programs and use the results of its assessment efforts to inform planning and continuously improve student learning outcomes.” (NWCCU Standards 1.C.5; 1.C.7)
Looking ahead, South Seattle College is scheduled for:
- Year Six Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review in Spring 2026
- Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness in Spring 2027, which will include follow-up on Recommendation 1.
South Seattle College remains committed to addressing this recommendation while building on its strengths to serve students and the community.
View South Seattle College's 2019 Mission Fullfillment Report (pdf)