Visit Dates: Oct. 26–28, 2026

Oregon Coast Community College will host a peer evaluation team from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) for its Year-Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness comprehensive visit on October 26–28, 2026. This is OCCC’s first Year-Seven Comprehensive Visit since achieving independent accreditation in February 2020.

The purpose of the visit is to evaluate the College’s compliance with NWCCU’s Eligibility Requirements, Standards for Accreditation, and Commission policies as part of the regular seven-year accreditation cycle. During the visit, members of the peer evaluation team will meet with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and members of the OCCC Board of Eduation.

Oregon Coast Community College is currently accredited by NWCCU, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The College’s most recent Commission action was its initial grant of independent accreditation in 2020.

Opportunity for Public Comment

Members of the public are invited to submit comments regarding Oregon Coast Community College’s qualifications for accreditation. Third-party comments should address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution, its educational programs, or its compliance with NWCCU Standards for Accreditation.

To be considered, comments must be signed and received by the Commission no later than ten (10) calendar days before the evaluation visit (October 16, 2026).

Comments may be submitted electronically through the NWCCU website at: https://nwccu.org/member-institutions/upcoming-evaluations/

Or by mail or courier to:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Ave NE, Suite 200
Redmond, WA 98052

This announcement is being issued per requirements of NWCCU Policy — Public Notification and Third-Party Comments Regarding Year-Seven Evaluations. More information can be found on the NWCCU website (nwccu.org) or by contacting the Commission office directly.

Oregon Coast Community College serves Lincoln County at four locations—in Newport, Toledo, Waldport and Lincoln City. The College offers two-year transfer and associate degrees as well as a range of career-focused certificate programs. In Fall 2026, OCCC will launch two new transfer degrees in Natural Resources and Psychology. The College is also constructing the $30 million Oregon Coast Advanced Technology & Trades (OCATT) Center on its Central County Campus in Newport. A recent economic impact study found that, from the student perspective, every $1 invested in an OCCC education generates $4.90 in higher future earnings, representing a 21.2% annual rate of return. Learn more at oregoncoast.edu.