The University of Redlands is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 180 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501 (501)748-9001 www.wscuc.org
Accreditation in the United States is voluntary and independent of government control, which is a distinctive feature of American higher education. Unlike many countries where educational quality assurance is administered directly by government agencies, institutions in the United States are not required to obtain accreditation. Most eligible institutions, including ours, pursue it anyway, because of the real benefits it brings. These benefits include eligibility for federal financial aid like Pell Grants, federal loans, and work-study programs.
Through WSCUC accreditation, we build and sustain strong educational programs, while giving students, employers, and the public confidence that we meet high standards of quality. Through an ongoing cycle of review - centered on institutional integrity, student learning and success, effective governance, and resource stewardship - we assess our performance, demonstrate fiscal and academic accountability, and reaffirm our commitment to a high-quality educational experience for all students.
HSI
The University of Redlands is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. Learn more about this designation by visiting our HSI information page. The most recent federal data on Hispanic-serving institutions (NCES, 2022) can be found on the NCES website.
ACS
The University of Redlands offers ACS (American Chemical Society) approved chemistry programs.
NASM
The Conservatory of Music is accredited by NASM (National Association of Schools of Music). Accredited Institutions Search - National Association of Schools of Music.
ASHA
The master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders education program in speech-language pathology at University of Redlands is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, (800) 498-2071 or (301) 296-5700.
CCTC
The School of Education offers programs accredited by the CCTC (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing). Approved institutions and programs.
ACBSP
The School of Business and Society offers programs accredited by ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs). Accredited programs.
ATS
The San Francisco Theological Seminary offers programs accredited by ATS (Association of Theological Schools). Accredited programs.
Reaffirmation and Special Visit Updates
Jump to: 2023 Reaffirmation | 2025 Special Visit | Next Steps
2023 Reaffirmation
In June 2023, WSCUC reaffirmed accreditation for the University of Redlands through June 2029 and confirmed that we met the three core commitments required for accreditation. We encourage our community to review the visit team report and the reaffirmation action letter to engage in our ongoing improvement efforts.
The 2023 commission action letter commended the University of Redlands for engaged and positive students who value personal interactions and small class sizes, a strong sense of community spirit among faculty, staff, and alumni, an inclusive strategic planning process that reduced departmental silos, and significant cost savings from centralized services. The commission identified areas for improvement including developing a sustainable financial plan, implementing comprehensive strategic enrollment planning, enhancing assessment and program review processes, formalizing shared governance, strengthening diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts, addressing faculty and staff morale and workload pressures, and ensuring sufficient faculty staffing. The university is committed to addressing these through ongoing strategic initiatives, enhanced data reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
2025 Special Visit
Following the 2023 reaffirmation, the 2024 reaffirmation of Woodbury University, and the 2024 approval of Woodbury University as a subsidiary of the University of Redlands, WSCUC conducted a special visit in March 2025, to review both institutions. The visit focused on leadership, financial sustainability, strategic enrollment, morale, faculty sufficiency, funding for Woodbury University, academic programs, shared services, Woodbury's teach-out plan, student support, assessment, and communication.
The commission commended the university for:
- taking a proactive, mission-driven approach to the strategic merger with Woodbury University
- ensuring long-term sustainability
- progress in integrating key operations and processes
- strong commitment to academic assessment, fostering continuous improvement and student success
The commission identified the following areas for development:
- adopt a realistic, data-driven strategic enrollment plan to improve reserves
- ensure liquidity, and support financial sustainability
- identify additional operational efficiencies
- foster a shared culture grounded in mission alignment, inclusive communication, and mutual respect across both institutions
- provide clear, transparent, and timely communication with opportunities for dialogue and feedback
- develop a comprehensive strategy to assess and improve faculty morale and sufficiency
- ensure comprehensive, accessible student support services aligned with the diverse needs of students during the merger
Next Steps
The University of Redlands is committed to addressing these areas while building on our strengths. Leadership teams are refining enrollment strategies, enhancing communication, and prioritizing faculty and student support. Progress will be detailed in the interim report due March 1, 2026. Please review the commission action letter and special visit team report to learn more about the results of our joint special visit with Woodbury University.
We welcome input from our community to support our continuous improvement efforts. Please contact Heather Lambeth, WSCUC accreditation liaison officer with any questions or feedback.
Approval of Woodbury University and University of Redlands Merger
On June 1, 2026, WSCUC granted final approval for our merger. Details may be found in the Action Letter.