Accredited Programs and Licensure Disclosure

Alma College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The College has been continuously accredited since 1916.

Currently, accreditation is awarded for ten year periods. Our last visit was in fall 2019.

In addition to this comprehensive accreditation, various departments have obtained accreditation or certification specific to their disciplines.

Accreditation Agencies

Higher Learning Commission

Alma College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

American Chemical Society

The Chemistry department at Alma College has received approval from the A merican Chemical Society.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Alma College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education

The Alma College Athletic Training Program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The program has been placed on Probation as of February 24, 2017, by the CAATE, 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX, 78731-3101.

Accreditation Update:

Resulting from the profession’s minimum degree change to a Master’s degree requirement, the Alma College Athletic Training Program is voluntarily withdrawing its accreditation as of December 31, 2020. As a result, the program’s final cohort entered in the fall of 2016. If you are interested in pursuing athletic training in graduate school, please contact Phillip Andre for more information on the appropriate bachelor’s degree preparation.

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

Alma College Teacher Education Program, which is designed to prepare initial teaching candidates, is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for a period of seven years, from October 2012 to October 2019

Michigan Department of Education

We revised our secondary education major for students entering in Fall 2011 and all our teaching majors and minors are approved by The Michigan Department of Education, most recently including our Special Education (K-12 Learning Disabilities) in 2015.

National Association of Schools of Music

Alma College is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is a voluntary agreement among member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state.

In collaboration with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) and the National Council for State Authorization Agreements (NC-SARA), the M-SARA Regional Steering Committee establishes and disseminates criteria for state participation and amends such criteria, as appropriate, over time.

Professional Licensure

Alma College is approved to offer programs, which may lead to licensure in the state of Michigan. Alma College cannot state that our programs will lead to licensure in other states. If you are planning to enroll in a program with the intention of earning licensure in a state other than Michigan, you should contact the licensing agency in the appropriate state prior to enrollment at Alma College.

International Students

Prior to enrolling in any program at Alma College, prospective students living and/or working outside of the United States should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency whether successful completion of any degree program at Alma College will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment, as to certain types of employment or for advanced/specialized educational programs.