Accreditation within higher education is a voluntary, non-governmental process that gives public recognition to institutions that meet published standards. There are two types of accreditation: institutional and specialized.

Purpose of accreditation: Accreditation offers assurance to stakeholders such as students, parents, citizens, and legislators that an institution meets quality standards. Educational and financial performance as demonstrated in these standards are expected to align with a commitment to continuous improvement. Accreditation by a federally recognized body meets requirements necessary for the receipt and management of federal financial aid funds. Through accreditation, institutions have an opportunity to review, assess, and further develop the quality of its educational and financial operations.

Current accreditation status: SIPI is currently accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). In 2018, the HLC Commission informed SIPI that it was re-accredited upholding its degree and certification programs as a result of the prior year comprehensive evaluation. SIPI successfully demonstrated that it met established standards.  In September 2023, SIPI will have a comprehensive review conducted by an on-site review team as part of the regular reaffirmation cycle. 

As a nationally accredited institution, SIPI is eligible to participate in Title IV federal financial aid and Department of Veteran’s Affairs assistance programs. Current accreditation status also facilitates the transfer of college credits to other regionally accredited institutions. See the 2018 news release from the Department of the Interior of our reaffirmation status.

On September 22, 2022, the Commission of Opticianry Accreditation (COA) voted to approve accreditation of the Vision Care Technology and Optical Technology/Lab programs for six years. The approval date is retroactive to the original expiration date in February 2021 as COVID prevented the commission form sending on-site teams.