What is Accreditation

Accreditation is the recognition that an institution maintains standards requisite for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice. “The goal of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality." (U.S. Department of Education)

Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission provides assurance to the public, in particular to prospective students, that an organization has been found to meet the agency's clearly stated requirements and criteria and that there are reasonable grounds for believing that it will continue to meet them.

As part of the HLC Open Pathway Comprehensive Evaluation, we are pleased to announce that we will be hosting Higher Learning Commission peer reviewers on our campuses on October 26-27, 2026.

In addition to Hennepin Technical College's institutional accreditation, many of Hennepin Tech's programs have achieved accreditation and certification status.

The Higher Learning Commission

230 South LaSalle Street
Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604

Email: inquiry@hlcommission.org
Phone: (800) 621-7440

Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Value of Accreditation

Whether a college, university, or program is accredited is important:

• Students who want federal (and sometimes state) grants and loans need to attend a college, university, or program that is accredited.
• Employers ask if a college, university, or program is accredited before deciding to provide tuition assistance to current employees, evaluating the credentials of new employees, or making a charitable contribution.
• The federal government requires that a college, university, or program be accredited in order to be eligible for federal grants and loans or other federal funds.
• State governments require that a college, university, or program be accredited when they make state funds available to students or institutions and when they allow students to sit for state licensure examinations in some professional fields.

- Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

Specialized or Program Accreditations

Academic programs are, in some instances, specifically accredited by an external agency. The following Hennepin Tech academic programs have received specialized accreditation: