Cleveland State University (CSU) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the largest of all regional accreditors in the U.S. Founded in 1895, HLC is responsible for the accreditation of degree-granting colleges and universities in a 19-state region. The Commission bases its work on a mission to serve “the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher education.” The mission comes to life through a set of Guiding Values that support a peer review process utilizing five criteria for accreditation.

The HLC is located at 230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604. It can be reached by phone at (800) 621-7440 or (312) 263-0456.

CSU values accreditation because it represents a set of quality assurance indicators by which it can fulfill its mission as an institution of higher education. In practical terms, accreditation is tied to public support, federal financial aid and acceptance of transfer credits. At the same time, CSU uses HLC’s criteria for accreditation as guidelines for its commitment to continuous improvement.