Accreditation and Institutional Authorization
Rogue Community College is committed to meeting high standards of academic quality, accountability and continuous improvement. Accreditation and institutional approvals ensure that RCC programs meet recognized standards and that students can confidently pursue education and career goals.
Institutional Accreditation
Rogue Community College has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1971. NWCCU is an institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education.
RCC accreditation was most recently reaffirmed in 2020 for the full seven‑year cycle under the NWCCU 2020 Standards. This reaffirmation followed a comprehensive self‑evaluation and virtual site visit and included recommendations and positive feedback from the Commission. The next full NWCCU reaccreditation visit is expected in fall 2026.
State and Federal Authorization
- RCC courses and programs are approved by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
- RCC is approved as a veterans’ training institution by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Advantages of Accreditation
Accreditation benefits the college and its students. These advantages include:
- Easier transfer of credits to other colleges and universities.
- Eligibility for federal financial aid.
- Eligibility for state and federal grants and program funding.
- Recognition as an institution committed to quality and continuous improvement.
- Ability to compare institutional effectiveness with state and national benchmarks.
- Employer recognition of RCC degrees and certificates.
Association Memberships
Rogue Community College is a member of:
Specialized Program Accreditation
In addition to institutional accreditation, select career and technical programs at Rogue Community College hold program‑specific accreditation or approval by professional accrediting bodies or state regulatory agencies.
Specialized accrediting agencies accredit individual educational programs such as business, law, engineering or nursing regarding program-specific standards. Each of these specialized organizations has its distinct definitions of eligibility, criteria for accreditation and operating procedures. Educational programs accredited by specialized accrediting agencies may reside within comprehensive institutions or within single-purpose institutions (p. 2, NWCCU Accreditation Handbook, January 2017 Edition).
Dental Programs
The Dental Assisting and Hygiene programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. CODA may be contacted at 312‑440‑4653 or 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
Other Specialized Accreditations
- Massage Therapy
- Nursing
- Practical Nursing
- Emergency Services (two separate accreditations).
Specialized accreditation evaluates individual programs against profession‑specific standards and may involve distinct eligibility criteria, review processes and reporting requirements.