Dues & Fees
Effective September 1, 2025
Fiscal Year 2026 NWCCU Annual Dues
For Fiscal Year 2026, NWCCU is maintaining the current dues model and travel fees approved in June 2024 by the Board of Commissioners.
NWCCU utilizes financial information on E&G expenditures plus auxiliary services provided by US institutions or audited financial information provided by Canadian institutions in the institutional Annual Report as the basis of the annual dues.
NWCCU is committed to maintaining the lowest cost institutional accreditation in the United States. Each year the Commission reviews its operating and other expenses and may request an increase or decrease in Annual Dues and Evaluation Fees, only as warranted to meet expenses. If the NWCCU Board of Commissioners approves the same, the change will be instituted. For institutional budget planning purposes, NWCCU encourages its member institutions to incorporate a 3% increase for Dues in their annual budgets.
The Dues Schedule outlines the 10 tiers of NWCCU’s funding model designed for equitable distribution of costs across our member institutions.
Invoices paid using a credit card will have a 3.5% credit card convenience fee added to the amount due.
Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date. Please be advised that we will charge late fees of 1% or $25 per month, whichever is higher.
Dues Schedule
| E&G Exp. + Auxiliary | 2025-2026 |
| Under $10M | $6,050 |
| $10 – 20M | $12,210 |
| $20 – 30M | $17,270 |
| $30 – 50M | $21,010 |
| $50 – 100M | $23,540 |
| $100 – 200M | $26,180 |
| $200 – 500M | $28,820 |
| $500 – 1,000M | $32,780 |
| $1,000 – 3,000M | $37,950 |
| Over $3,000M | $40,000 |
Application, Evaluation, and Liaison Site Visit Fees
Fees for Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness
Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE) will be undertaken by a team of peer evaluators accompanied by an NWCCU Staff Liaison. Please see table below for schedule of evaluation visit fees for domestic and international institutions. Institutions will be billed and must pay the evaluation fees in advance of the evaluation visit. Year Seven EIE peer evaluation teams will include a minimum of five members, with additional team members as needed to address additional review elements (e.g., outstanding Recommendations, additional locations requiring a visit).
Fees for Year Six Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review
For Year Six Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review (PRFR), institutions will undergo a virtual evaluation by a team of peer evaluators with background in areas such as policies, regulations, finance, student support services, human resources, library, information systems and technology, and infrastructure. Please see table below for schedule of PRFR evaluation fees for domestic and international institutions. Institutions will be billed and must pay the evaluation fees in advance of the evaluation of the Year Six PRFR report.
Fees for Mid-Cycle Review and Ad Hoc, Special, and Financial Resources Review Visits
Mid-Cycle Review or Ad Hoc, Special, and Financial Resources Review (FRR) Visitswill be undertaken by a team of peer evaluators. Please see table below for schedule of evaluation visit fees for domestic and international institutions. Institutions will be billed and must pay the evaluation fees in advance of the evaluation visit. Ad Hoc, Special, and Financial Resources Review peer evaluation teams will typically include one to two members. Additional peer evaluators may be included on teams as needed to address additional review elements (e.g., outstanding Recommendations, additional locations requiring a visit).
NWCCU Schedule of Fees
(Effective September 1, 2025)
- All fees due in advance
- Institution is responsible for any transaction fees for bill payment
- Branch campus and additional locations, including international locations, to be visited will have additional charges
- A surcharge will be assessed to cover potential additional costs for travel to international institutions and institutions outside of the traditional NWCCU region
| Fees for North American Institutions (US $) | Fees for International Institutions (US $) | |
| Eligibility Review | ||
| Application Inquiry | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Application for Candidate for Accreditation. Requires site visit by NWCCU Liaison. | $7,500 plus $2,400 for travel by NWCCU Staff Liaison | $7,500 plus $2,400 for travel by NWCCU Staff Liaison |
| Initial Candidacy Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators and NWCCU Liaison | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator
$2,500 for NWCCU Liaison plus $2,400 for travel |
$5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator
$5,000 for NWCCU Liaison plus $2,400 for travel |
| Interim Candidacy Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators and NWCCU Liaison (One or More Visits) | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator
$2,500 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 for travel |
$5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator
$5,000 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 |
| Initial Accreditation Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators and NWCCU Liaison | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator
$2,500 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 for travel |
$5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator
$5,000 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 |
| Evaluation Visits (Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness) | ||
| Member Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator
$2,500 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 for travel |
$5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator
$5,000 for NWCCU Staff Liaison plus $2,400 |
| Onsite Peer Evaluation Visits (Mid-Cycle; Ad-hoc and Special) | ||
| Member Campus Visit by Peer Evaluators | $2,500 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator | $5,000 plus $2,400 for travel for each evaluator |
| Virtual Evaluations (Ad-Hoc, Special, FRR, and Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review*) | ||
| Member Virtual Evaluation by Peer Evaluators | $500 | $500 |
| NWCCU Liaison Visits | ||
| Candidate and Member Campus Visit by NWCCU Liaison | $4,500
Includes $2,100 visit fees and $2,400 to cover travel |
$5,000 plus actual travel cost |
| Reports | ||
| Special Reports Without Visit, including Financial Resources Review | $500 | $500 |
Substantive Change Fees
The first 10 substantive changes per year (excluding categories 19 and 20 below) will be free of charge. The annual count is reset on September 1 each year. Free substantive change requests will incur fees for expedited review if that option is selected.
Mandatory Portal Updates and Program Inventory Updates do not incur a fee. See the Substantive Change Manual for more information.
| Substantive Changes | |
| $1,000
(Minor Change) |
1. Adding program content, or academic program(s), including certificate programs that represent a significant departure (25% or more aggregate change for programs of one year or more; 50% or more aggregate change for programs of less than one year) from program(s) or related programs approved previously
Review Level: Senior Staff 2. Development of customized pathways or abbreviated/modified program to accommodate prior learning Review Level: Senior Staff 3. Initiating distance education delivery of any portion of an academic program, for institutions not currently authorized to deliver distance education Review Level: Senior Staff 4. Initiating correspondence education delivery of any portion of an academic program, for institutions not currently authorized to deliver correspondence education Review Level: Senior Staff 5. Substantially changing the number of clock or credit hours awarded for successful completion of a program (25% aggregate change of total program credits or clock hours for program of one year or more; 50% for programs of less than one year) Review Level: Senior Staff 6. Changing an institutional annual calendar system including semester, trimester, quarter, block, or competency-based units Review Level: Senior Staff |
| $1,500
(Minor Change) |
7. Entering into a contractual agreement for education-related services under 34 CFR 668.5 under which an institution or organization not certified to participate in Title IV programs and offers more than 25% but less than 50% of one or more of an accredited institution’s educational programs
Review Level: Senior Staff 8. Initiating or expanding Competency-Based Education (CBE) where 50% or more of the courses or credits in an academic program are provided using CBE Review Level: Senior Staff 9. Changing an existing program from clock to credit hours (or vice versa) Review Level: Senior Staff 10. Adding the 2nd and 3rd academic programs at a degree or credential level not previously included in the institution’s accreditation or candidacy/pre-accreditation by NWCCU Review Level: Senior Staff 11. The addition of a permanent location at a site at which the institution is conducting a teach-out for students of another institution that has ceased operating before all students have completed their program of study Review Level: Senior Staff |
| $1,500
(Major Change) |
12. Initiating or expanding Direct Assessment where 50% or more of the courses or credits in an academic program are provided using Direct Assessment.
Review Level: External Panel NWCCU Executive Committee approval 13. Acquiring or merging any program of another institution Review Level: External Panel NWCCU Executive Committee approval 14. Establishing an additional location or branch campus where 50% or more of the program requirements can be earned via face-to-face instructional delivery (First two locations only) Review Level: External Panel and NWCCU Executive Committee approval 15. Establishing a Prison Education Program (First two locations only) Review Level: External Panel NWCCU Executive Committee approval 16. Establishing an international location where 50% or more of the program requirements can be earned via face-to-face instructional delivery (First two locations only) Review Level: External Panel and NWCCU Executive Committee approval 17. Adding the first academic program at a degree or credential level not previously included in the institution’s accreditation or candidacy/pre-accreditation by NWCCU Review Level: External Panel and NWCCU Executive Committee approval 18. Substantial change in institutional mission, objectives, of the institution, or programs offered Review Level: Executive Panel and NWCCU Executive Committee approval |
| $10,000
(Major Change) |
19. Change in the legal status, form of control, or ownership of the institution
Review Level: Panel, Executive Committee, or Commission |
| $20,000
(Major Change) |
20. Acquiring or merging with another institution or location of another institution
Review Level: Panel, Executive Committee, or Commission |
| Expedited Processing | |
| $1,000 | Expedite via staff review (2 week processing) |
| $2,000 | Expedite via Panel review (12 week processing) |
The Commission is committed to analyzing the substantive change fee structure every year and revising only as needed.
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