Accreditation

Macalester College Accreditation

Macalester College has been accredited continuously since 1915.

Macalester’s accrediting body is the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), one of six regional institutional accrediting agencies in the United States. The United States Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education recognize the HLC.

Colleges and universities must be accredited to qualify for student federal financial aid and other government support.

Review and Renewal

Accreditation requires that U.S. institutions of higher education undergo a periodic peer review. This review assures the quality of institution and encourages continued improvement of the institution and its programs.

In February 2026, Macalester received full HLC accreditation for the maximum ten-year term. This determination was based on extensive data collected from an institutionally submitted assurance argument and a two-day HLC campus visit.