Accredited, Accessible,
and Built for Your Success
College Unbound is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the governing body that recognizes universities like Brown, Harvard, the University of Connecticut, Emerson, Dartmouth, and 200 others.
Because of our NECHE status, we can offer Federal Financial aid, enabling students to qualify for Pell grants and other options.
CU is committed to keeping costs affordable for our students through financial aid, work-study programs, and other avenues.
College Unbound is no stranger to the barriers students face. For many, the most significant obstacles are time, money, and childcare.
College Unbound has a solution for all three, enabling students to embed their college journeys into the professional lives they are already living, offering tuition assistance through scholarships and financial aid, and providing childcare (and meals!).
The Path to Accreditation
In 2015, College Unbound made history when the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education unanimously approved it as a degree-granting institution, recognizing its ability to serve underrepresented, low-income adult learners.
By 2018, College Unbound achieved Candidate for Accreditation status with the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), marking a significant step toward full accreditation.
In 2019, College Unbound secured Federal Financial Aid eligibility, allowing students to access Pell Grants and other financial support. That fall, the college welcomed 100 new students, with over 75% receiving financial aid.
In 2020, NECHE granted College Unbound accreditation, affirming its commitment to quality education and its transformative impact on individuals, families, and communities.
College Unbound continues to empower adult learners to complete their degrees, expand their opportunities, and build better lives.
Institutional Information
2023-24 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
CARES Act Student Emergency Relief Grants
Accreditation
Accreditation by the Commission indicates that the institution meets or exceeds criteria for assessing institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process.
An accredited college or university has been found to have the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs. It also gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding an institution’s affiliation status with the Commission should be directed to:
The New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100
Burlington, MA 01803-4514
U.S.A. Direct line to Commission offices: (781) 425-7785
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.neche.org
SARA Student Complaint Process
Cohorts enrolling outside of Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are governed by NC-SARA.
Under NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) rules, students have the right to lodge a complaint or grievance if that student’s experience in an online program is not what they anticipate.
College Unbound wants to ensure that all student complaints are addressed fairly and resolved promptly. All student complaints must be filed initially with Adam Bush, CU’s SARA Principal Contact at [email protected]
If a resolution to that complaint is not found, then a further appeal can be addressed to:
Deanna Velletri, Proprietary School Specialist
[email protected]
401-736-1118
For more information click HERE.