The decision is a clear and positive reaffirmation of Antioch University’s strength and future.
Antioch University announced that the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has reaffirmed the University’s accreditation for 10 years, the longest period the Commission authorizes. Following a comprehensive institutional self-study leading up to a site visit in May 2025, the HLC’s Institutional Actions Council voted on September 29, 2025, to continue Antioch’s accreditation through the 2034–2035 academic year.
“This is a proud and affirming moment for Antioch University,” said Lori Varlotta, PhD, the President of Antioch University. “It allows us to move forward with confidence, knowing that our accreditors have expressed full trust in our direction and in the integrity of our work.”
The reaffirmation process examined five core dimensions of Antioch’s work: mission, governance, financial stability, teaching and learning, and institutional effectiveness. Antioch submitted a detailed Assurance Argument and hosted an HLC peer review site visit. The review team commended Antioch for its progress over the last decade and confirmed the continuation of accreditation without interruption.
The HLC’s decision requires no interim monitoring, reporting, or focus visits. The only additional step will occur during Antioch’s routine Mid-Cycle Comprehensive Evaluation in 2028–2029, when the University will provide an update on the assessment of student learning as part of its continuous improvement efforts.
Independent accreditation, conducted by voluntary peer reviewers, is a cornerstone of U.S. higher education quality assurance. Antioch University has been continuously accredited by HLC for 98 years. The reaffirmation confirms the rigor and credibility of Antioch’s degrees, preserves student eligibility for federal financial aid, and affirms that Antioch meets and upholds HLC’s standards for accredited institutions.
“The HLC’s clear and positive reaffirmation is a terrific recognition of all our hard work since the last review more than a decade ago,” said Michelle Finley, Antioch’s Assistant VP for Accreditation & Academic Assessment and Antioch’s Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) for the HLC.
“This reaffirmation confirms what we already know, that Antioch University remains a national leader in learner-centered, socially engaged education,” Varlotta said. “We have demonstrated that Antioch’s mission—to provide learner-centered education to empower students to lead meaningful lives and to advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice—remains vibrant, relevant, and strong.”
