Overview

Accreditation is a form of independent review designed to establish and maintain the uniform quality of educational programs and institutional effectiveness. It includes an important process of self-assessment that allows an institution to reflect on its programs, policies, and procedures as well as its strengths and weaknesses in accomplishing its educational mission.

Olympic College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities (NWCCU), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation and the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. As an accredited school, Olympic College is allowed to provide financial aid to qualifying students, thereby giving more people access to strong, valuable education programs.

Inquiries regarding an institution's accredited status by the NWCCU should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities

8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100
Redmond, WA  98052
425-558-4224
NWCCU Website

Accreditation by the NWCCU refers to the institution as a whole. Therefore, statements like 'fully accredited' or 'this program is accredited by the NWCCU' or 'this degree is accredited by the NWCCU' are incorrect and should not be used.

Current Status

Olympic College's accreditation was reaffirmed in January 2019 based on its 2018 evaluation. 

Mission Fulfillment

The mission of Olympic College (OC) is to enrich “our diverse communities through quality education and support so students achieve their educational goals.” Olympic College's Mission Fulfillment Indicators align with the Strategic Planning Framework, superseding the previous Core Themes. Mission fulfillment is measured based on meeting or exceeding the established thresholds. Appendix A of the 2021 Mid-cycle Review provides data for these mission fulfillment indicators. 

  • Student Access and Success: OC’s mission requires a commitment to serving the educational needs of the service area and its diverse community. Student access and success incorporates goals for equitable enrollment, progression, completion, and achievement for groups that have been historically underrepresented.
  • Teaching and Learning: Teaching and learning have always been the central focus of OC. Student perceptions of instruction and quality of relationships with instructors are important to the ongoing assessment of teaching effectiveness.
  • Campus Climate and Intergroup Relations: Campus Climate and Intergroup Relations describes the psychological and behavioral environment of the campus. Providing a campus climate that is welcoming to all is vital to OC’s mission to enrich our diverse communities.
  • Institutional Capacity Building: Institutional Capacity Building includes equity commitment and capacity, engagement with external stakeholders, professional development and training, and diverse faculty and staff.

Report Schedule

  • Spring 2025: Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review, Year 6​
  • Spring 2026: Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness, Year 7

Reports & Information

Contact info: