University of Phoenix’s Accreditor Approves Deal With Idaho

Inside Higher Ed

Doug Lederman

November 14, 2023

The Higher Learning Commission, which accredits the University of Phoenix and roughly 500 other colleges across the United States, has formally approved the for-profit university’s acquisition by a nonprofit affiliated with the University of Idaho.

The arrangement, which was announced in May, has, like numerous other takeovers of currently or formerly for-profit institutions by public institutions, stirred controversy and drawn scrutiny from policy makers urging caution.

The Higher Learning Commission certainly knew that its decision would be closely watched. U.S. senators critical of the deal copied the leaders of the Midwestern accreditor (and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which accredits the University of Idaho) on a September letter asking a series of tough questions about the purchase.

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