“Accreditation is the process for evaluating and assuring the quality of education used by the American higher education community. It is a uniquely American quality assurance process through which institutions collectively set standards for good practice, conduct peer-based evaluations of institutions on a regular basis, confer accredited status on institutions, and make the results of accreditation review of institutions known to the public.

“Through accreditation, the higher education community shoulders the responsibility for monitoring the quality of the programs and services of member institutions.”

Palomar College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC/WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation and the Department of Education.

428 J Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814
P: (415) 506-0234 |F: (415) 506-0238
E: accjc@accjc.org

The accreditation process operates on a seven-year cycle. Institutions are required to submit an Institutional Self-Evaluation (ISER) every seven years, a possible follow-up report in year two, and a midterm report in year four. Additional Accreditation Reports and Fiscal Reports are required annually. Whenever an institution undergoes a substantive change, a Substantive Change Proposal is also required. For a visual representation of the seven-year reporting cycle, please click on the Accreditation Reporting Map.