Current Fee Schedule
Accreditation Fees and Costs
NACCUA publishes its accreditation fees and costs separately from its standards and application forms so institutions can review current charges without confusing fee changes with substantive accreditation requirements.
Before application
Understanding accreditation fees and costs before applying.
NACCUA does not charge an eligibility-review fee. Institutions may review the published eligibility requirements and contact NACCUA with reasonable scope or pathway questions before filing a formal application.
The purpose of publishing accreditation fees and costs in one place is to make the expected financial commitment easier to understand before an institution begins the formal process. The applicable amount depends primarily on institutional level, requested accreditation scope, and the complexity of the review.
Application fee
$500
The formal application fee is $500 and is non-refundable once the application is submitted for processing.
The application fee is separate from the initial accreditation review fee.
Initial accreditation review
Accreditation fees and costs by institutional level.
The applicable review fee is determined by NACCUA based on the institution’s educational level, requested accreditation scope, and material complexity. These accreditation fees and costs are intended to keep the fee structure understandable while allowing different types of institutions to be reviewed proportionately.
$4,500
Primary and secondary schools; career, vocational, technical, professional, and other non-degree institutions.
$6,000
Colleges and universities that are primarily undergraduate in scope.
$7,500
Graduate or doctoral institutions, or materially complex multi-level institutions.
What the fees support
Accreditation fees and costs support the review process.
Initial review fees support the administrative and professional work required to evaluate an institution against NACCUA’s published requirements and to maintain an appropriate accreditation record.
Depending on the institution and requested scope, the process may include application administration, completeness review, substantive evaluation, evidence analysis, reviewer coordination, Site Review preparation and verification, institutional response, decision preparation, formal decision activity, record maintenance, and required notices.
The fee structure is not intended to create additional accreditation requirements. NACCUA’s standards, evidence requirements, and decision rules remain separate from its fee schedule.
Site Review
Virtual review is included.
Virtual Site Review
A standard virtual Site Review is included in the initial accreditation review fee.
In-Person Site Review
When NACCUA determines that an in-person Site Review is necessary, the institution is responsible for actual reasonable travel and lodging expenses. Such expenses will be identified and approved in advance whenever reasonably practicable.
Additional accreditation fees
Continuing and special reviews.
Provisional-to-Full Accreditation Review — $1,500
This review applies when a provisionally accredited institution becomes eligible for consideration for Full Accreditation after completing the required operating history and submitting sufficient operating evidence. Full Accreditation requires an affirmative NACCUA decision.
Annual Accreditation Maintenance
$1,000 — primary/secondary, career, vocational, technical, professional, and other non-degree institutions.
$1,500 — colleges and universities primarily undergraduate in scope.
$2,000 — graduate, doctoral, and materially complex multi-level institutions.
Material Change Review — normally $500 to $1,500
The fee depends on the scope and complexity of the proposed or reported change and the level of review required.
Renewal / Reaccreditation
Renewal and reaccreditation fees will be established under the published fee schedule in effect at the time of the renewal cycle. They are not included in this initial fee schedule.
External quality assurance context
Transparent information supports informed participation.
Clear information about accreditation fees and costs helps institutions understand the financial side of an external quality-assurance process before they commit resources.
The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) publishes international standards and guidelines addressing transparency and good practice in external quality assurance.
NACCUA applies its own fee schedule, accreditation standards, policies, and decision rules. The INQAAHE resource is provided only as an external reference on quality-assurance practice and does not establish or control NACCUA fees.
Fee administration
The published fee schedule controls.
Application forms, handbooks, and other accreditation documents may refer to applicable NACCUA fees without reproducing every dollar amount. The current published NACCUA Fee Schedule controls the amount due at the time a fee becomes payable.
NACCUA may revise fees prospectively. Any change does not alter the substantive accreditation standards or decision requirements.
Before a material payment is due, the institution should confirm the applicable fee category and any separately chargeable expenses. If the requested scope changes materially during review, NACCUA may determine whether a different review category or additional review fee applies before the additional work proceeds.
Before committing funds
Confirm the applicable category.
Institutions with multiple educational levels, unusually broad program scope, multiple delivery models, or other material complexity should contact NACCUA before submitting payment so that the applicable review category can be confirmed.