Dues, Fees, and Expenses

A high percentage of the operational costs of The Commission on Colleges and Universities is met by annual institutional dues. All member and candidate institutions shall pay dues and fees in accordance with those authorized by The Commission and approved by the College Delegate Assembly and The Commission Board of Trustees.

A statement of dues shall be issued by The Commission and shall be payable upon receipt of The Commission’s invoice by the member or candidate institution. The invoice is sent to the chief executive officer of the institution. Dues assessment information is not released about an institution without written permission by the institution’s chief executive officer.

Dues statements are mailed to institutions in May and are payable by July 31. When an institution fails to pay its dues by the designated deadline, The Commission will assume from this action that the institution no longer wants to maintain its membership or candidacy with The Commission. Membership dues are non-refundable. By that action, the institution withdraws from membership or candidacy.

If an institution has filed bankruptcy, The Commission may not act to revoke accreditation for failure to pay accreditation dues and fees during the pendency of bankruptcy.

Travel expenses relative to Commission staff and committee visits are borne by the institution being visited. The institution will be billed by The Commission following the visit. Institutions being reviewed are responsible for covering the actual direct expenses of the review committee. Direct expenses normally include travel, lodging, meals, and other related expenses. For general budgeting purposes, institutions may use a guideline of approximately $1,500 expenses per committee member; however, expenses vary considerably depending upon the site location(s), the number of committee members, etc. In certain cases, an administrative fee is charged in addition to actual direct expenses. (See administrative fees for special and substantive change committee visits and for fifth-year interim reviews of off-campus instructional sites.)

1. Membership and Candidate Dues — Candidate and member institutions are assessed annual dues beginning with the calendar year in which candidacy or membership is awarded.
   • Dues assessments for candidate institutions: Dues = Fixed Cost (static rate calculated each fiscal year; contact staff for current rate).
   • Dues assessments for members: Dues = Fixed Cost + Full-Time Enrollment Equivalent Variable + Educational & General Expenditure Variable. If an institution’s E&G total does not exceed $4,000,000, that institution’s dues amount includes only the fixed cost amount added to the full-time enrollment equivalent variable amount.
2. Fees for Review of Applicant Institutions — Engagement with applicant institutions begins at the time an institution submits its application. To cover expenses associated with the review of the application, consultation with Commission staff, and the assembling of a Candidacy Committee, The Commission Board of Trustees adopted the following application fee structure:
   • Pre-Applicant workshops and support materials (one-time registration fee; unlimited access): $100
   • Application Fee for institutions submitting an application for membership (payment to accompany application): $6,900
   • Reduced Application fee for first five applicants from a new country or state not represented in current membership: $4,900
   • Candidacy Fee for institutions authorized a Candidate Committee (billed to the institution following action on authorization) — U.S. institutions: $5,000 · International institutions: $5,000
3. Fees and Expenses for a Candidacy Committee and Accreditation Committee Visit — The following fees will be assessed to an institution hosting a Candidacy Committee or Accreditation Committee visit:
   • Staff Consultation Visit (prior to visit; billed to institution): actual travel expenses (no charge for visits conducted virtually)
   • Committee visit: the actual cost of the Committee (travel, lodging, food, and related expenses for each evaluator and staff, plus incidental expenses as noted below)
   • Incidental expenses for committee chairs and members (regardless of in-person or virtual participation), in addition to actual reimbursable expenses: Committee Chairs $300 · Committee Members $150
   • The institution will receive a bill for the total amount following the conclusion of the committee’s evaluation activities.
4. Fees and Expenses for a Reaffirmation Review
   • Staff Advisory Visit (billed to institution): actual travel expenses plus $750
   • Review by the Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee (flat fee billed to institution): $3,500
   • Review by an On-Site Reaffirmation Committee: includes travel, lodging, food, and related expenses for each evaluator and staff, and incidental expenses for each evaluator.
   • The institution will receive a bill for the total amount following the conclusion of the Committee’s evaluation activities.
5. Fees and Expenses for a Fifth-Year Interim Review — Review by the Fifth-Year Interim Review Committee (flat fee billed to institution): $3,500
6. Fees and Expenses for an Off-Campus Instructional Site Committee (Interim OCIS) Visit (in conjunction with an institution’s Fifth-Year Interim Review)
   • The actual cost of the Committee (travel, lodging, food, and related expenses for each evaluator and staff, and incidental expenses for each evaluator), and
   • Administrative fee for Interim OCIS Committees: $1,500
   • The institution will receive a bill for the total amount following the conclusion of the Committee’s evaluation activities.
7. Fees and Expenses for a Substantive Change Review — The following fees will be assessed to institutions planning the initiation of a substantive change and requiring an application/prospectus review:

• Substantive Change types not on this list are not assessed a fee. †Billed to lead institution.
• If the appropriate fees listed above are not included with the application or prospectus, the institution(s) will be billed.
• Fees and Expenses for a Substantive Change Committee Visit
  • The actual cost of the Committee (travel, lodging, food, and related expenses for each evaluator and staff, and incidental expenses for each evaluator), and
  • Administrative fee for Substantive Change Committees: $2,000
  • The institution will receive a bill for the total amount following the conclusion of the Committee’s evaluation activities.
• Fees and Expenses for a Special Committee Review
  • The actual cost of the Committee (travel, lodging, food, and related expenses for each evaluator and staff, and incidental expenses for each evaluator), and
  • Administrative fee for Special Committees: $1,500
  • The institution will receive a bill for the total amount following the conclusion of the Committee’s evaluation activities.
• Incidental Expenses for Peer Evaluators — Chairs and other members of Commission review committees receive an amount for incidental expenses in addition to their actual reimbursable expenses: Committee Chairs $300 · Committee Members $150