About
Accreditation

Accreditation

Coastline College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and College.

ACCJC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as a reliable authority regarding the quality of education offered by the institutions it accredits in keeping with the Higher Education Act of 1965. ACCJC is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which has established criteria that define a quality review system for accrediting agencies. ACCJC accredits institutions in the United States, its territories, and affiliates, with a primary mission of granting associate degrees; institutions accredited by ACCJC may also award certificates and other credentials, including bachelor's degrees, if those credentials are within the institution's mission and authorized by their governmental authorities. ACCJC may also accredit non-domestic institutions with a primary mission of granting associate degrees. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found on the ACCJC website.

ACCJC Address / Contact Info: Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC); 428 J Street, Suite 400; Sacramento, CA 95814; (415) 506-0234; accjc@accjc.org

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a process for evaluating and assuring the quality of education used by the American higher education community. Each institution affiliated with the ACCJC voluntarily undergoes a seven-year cycle of institutional self-evaluation and professional peer review, measuring itself against the Accreditation Standards. Based upon reports and peer review, the Commission determines the accredited status of an institution, which is made public through Commission announcements.

2025 Institutional Self Study for Reaffirmation of Accreditation

The Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) effort began in Spring 2024 with the Planning, Institutional Effectiveness, and Accreditation Committee forming cross-funtional accreditation standard teams and an initial ISER timeline. More than 40 college stakeholders contributed to the development and review of the ISER. Drafts of the report were distributed college-wide and presents across continiuency groups from Fall 2024 through Spring 2025.

2024-25 ISER Development and Review Timeline
2025 Institutional Self Evaluation Report

Third Party Comments

A third-party comment assists the ACCJC Commission as it considers applications for candidacy, accreditation, or reaffirmation of accreditation. When an institution is undergoing a review, the Commission requires the institution’s chief executive officer to notify the campus community and public of the opportunity for submission of third-party comments and the process for doing so. Any member of the college community or public may submit a third-party comment by completing the Commission’s online third-party comment form, available via the institution’s website or ACCJC’s website. In order to ensure evaluation of applicable third-party comments by the peer review team, third-party comments should be received by the Commission staff no later than five weeks before the peer review team visit. Institutions will be provided an opportunity to review applicable third-party comments. Please use the commissions link to provide any comments regarding the College's application for reaffirmation of accreditation.

Current Accreditation Documents

Certificate of Accreditation (2019-06-28)

Historical Accreditation Documents

Program with External Recognitions

Coastline's Paralegal Program has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1985. The American Bar Association approval process can be found in the ABA guidelines most recently published September 2021. Each ABA approved program must go through a re-approval every seven years. An interim report is due to the ABA every three years through that seven-year cycle. Coastline's most recent re-approval occurred in 2021. An interim report will be submitted for approval in 2024. The next cycle for Coastline’s ABA re-approval will occur in 2027. A directory of ABA approved programs can be found on the ABA’s website. If you have any questions regarding Coastline’s ABA approval, please contact program coordinator Stephen Barnes, J.D. (sbarnes@coastline.edu) or the ABA directly.

The Cybersecurity Associate of Science Degree program is recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Administration. The program is focused on helping students to proactively increase their understanding of robust cyber defense technology, policy, and practices to work collaboratively as professionals to effectively prevent and respond to catastrophic cyber events. This program contributes significantly to the advancement of state-of-the-art cybersecurity knowledge and practices and is held to national standards. This program has led to the development of program pathways, grants, and opportunities for students to attain credentials, industry recognized certifications, and experiences in preparation for high demand and high wage jobs. If you have any questions regarding Coastline’s CAE recognition, please contact faculty program director Tobi West, Ph.D. (twest@coastline.edu).

College Contact

If you have any question regarding accreditation at Coastline, please contact the College's Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), Dr. Aeron Zentner (azentner@coastline.edu).