In 2015, Loyola Marymount University received accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University (WSCUC). On Feb. 27, 2025, WSCUC officially reaffirmed LMU’s accreditation for the next decade, marking 76 years of continuous accreditation since the university’s initial recognition in 1949. The 10-year reaffirmation, the highest honor an institution can receive, highlights LMU’s commitment to academic excellence and success.
Colleges and universities nationwide reaffirm their accreditation to ensure an institution continues to meet high standards of quality and effectiveness. In higher education, accreditation is also a requirement for LMU to participate in programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education and for LMU students to have access to federal financial aid.
As a part of WSCUC’s accreditation process, the commission focuses on how institutions fulfill their mission, garner and deploy resources, implement improvements to higher education, and provide students with an excellent educational experience. In its recent notification letter, the commission commended LMU for its strengths in:
- Articulating and widely communicating a clear mission and core values while fostering a culture of collaboration, empathy, and shared purpose that nurtures both intellectual growth and holistic well-being for students, faculty, and staff.
- Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion as core institutional values through proactive initiatives and embedded institutional policies and practices that reflect the university’s authentic commitment to creating an inclusive community.
- Analyzing student success through systematic research on contributing factors, barriers, and interventions while providing transparent access to comprehensive disaggregated outcome data.
- Implementing a distinctive strategic plan with key commitments and spotlight initiatives that are integrated with campaign goals, capital planning, and allocation of resources.
The commission also confirmed LMU’s completion of the Thematic Pathway for Reaffirmation institutional review process conducted under the 2023 Standards of Accreditation. In 2022, an LMU review steering committee was developed to ensure the successful completion of the university’s reaffirmation and accreditation process.
The WSCUC will require an update on LMU’s ongoing progress to reaffirm accreditation in 2030. The next review cycle will take place in 2034.
To learn more about WSCUC and the process, please visit LMU’s accreditation website.
