Proudly accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
The hunt for the right college or university is a complicated one. In addition to obvious questions such as tuition rates, which degree and certificate programs are offered, and what industry-relevant courses are available, there is one question that many institutions won’t be as straightforward about: their accreditation status.
Accreditation is awarded to an institution of higher learning by an independent, external group of peer reviewers who confirm that the college or university in question keeps the promises it makes to students with integrity, transparency, and clarity.
CSU Global is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and it’s a status we are proud to claim.
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) means your degree comes from a top-quality, trusted university.
CSU Global Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for its ability to review, inspect and accredit degree-granting colleges and universities in the nation. It was founded in 1895 as one of six highly regarded regional accreditors in the U.S.
The HLC has designed the accreditation process to achieve its mission: Advancing the common good through quality assurance of higher education as the leader in equitable, transformative and trusted accreditation in the service of students and member institutions.
HLC accreditation is based on the thorough evaluation and fulfillment of five specific criteria as found on its website.
Mission
Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support
Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning
As an accredited institution, we deliver online degree programs including undergraduate degrees, master's degrees, and certificates of completion programs with the academic standards of a state university.
Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Effective May 16, 2016, the Institutional Actions Council of the Higher Learning Commission continued the accreditation of Colorado State University Global with the next Reaffirmation of Accreditation in 2025-26. This action was the result of an extensive 18-month self-study, review, and site visit completed within the 2015-2016 academic year. You can view the formal notification letter here. In line with the HLC Standard Pathway 10-Year Review Cycle, in 2020, CSU Global underwent the Year 4 Comprehensive Evaluation and successfully completed a Focused Report and Visit in 2023.
Click here if you wish to file a complaint with the HLC.
CSU Global Programmatic Accreditations
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
CSU Global qualifies for and provides business programs that are programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The following programs are ACBSP accredited: B.S. in Accounting, B.S. in Business Management, B.S.in Human Resources Management, B.S. in Management Information Systems and Business Analytics, B.S. in Marketing, M.S. in Finance, M.S. in Human Resource Management, M.S. in International Management, M.S. in Management, and M.S. in Professional Accounting.
CSU Global determined that the mission, focus on quality teaching and student preparedness, and the definitions of scholarship presented by ACBSP are well-aligned with CSU Global’s mission, vision, values, and academic approach. ACBSP accreditation is a mark of teaching excellence and academic quality for CSU Global. For further information please visit CSU Global's page on the ACBSP website.
Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs
CSU Global’s Bachelor of Science in Project Management and Master of Project Management degrees also feature programmatic accreditation through the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC). For further information about the Project Management Institute, visit their website.
GAC accreditation ensures the quality of academic degree programs and their graduates in order to meet the standards of the rapidly growing field of project management.
CSU Global’s project management curriculum is reviewed and revised every 18 to 24 months to ensure that it meets the needs of today’s learners and remains fully aligned with PMI’s leading project management standards, including the PMBOK® Guide.
State Specific Authorizations
As an institutionally accredited public university that participates in federal financial aid programs, CSU Global works to ensure that it provides students with accurate and complete regulatory information. This includes documenting compliance with the state laws in any states where educational programming is offered as required by the U.S. Department of Education's Program Integrity Rules.
Not all states require state specific authorizations, and the activities that require authorization vary from state to state. Please direct any questions related to state authorizations to state.authorizations [at] csuglobal.edu.
CSU Global is a participating member in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). SARA is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. SARA is overseen by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and administered by four regional education compacts. For the State of Colorado, this is the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).
Once a state has joined SARA, and then subsequently approves a school or college as a participating institution, a university may offer distance education to students residing in SARA-participating states. Approved institutions will have no restrictions on advertising, marketing, and program offerings, and minimal restrictions on clinical practice and internships (no greater than 10 students at one location).
For a list of Colorado-approved institutions see: http://nc-sara.org/states/co
For a list of currently approved institutions and participating states see: http://nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions
To file a complaint about your educational experience, here are the NC-SARA guidelines: https://nc-sara.org/student-complaints
Some states have restrictions regarding internships, student teaching, and practica, and as such, these opportunities may not be available in all states.
Many countries regulate the recognition of foreign degrees and credentials. Some countries do not officially recognize online degrees awarded by foreign colleges or universities. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that a degree awarded by CSU Global will be recognized by a foreign country for the purpose of employment or enrollment in other educational programs.
Students who have not reached a satisfactory resolution upon completion of the institutional grievance process may file a complaint with the appropriate agency listed below:
For grievance resolution in Colorado and the following states and territories that have reciprocity with Colorado:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Colorado Department of Higher Education
States and Territories not Participating in Reciprocity:
California residents can file complaints through the California Department of Consumer Affairs online at www.dca.ca.gov or call toll-free 833-942-1120
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