Accreditation
Mount Tamalpais College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Blvd., Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at www.accjc.org.
This moment of great progress for Mount Tamalpais College is also a landmark event in a society that has persistently excluded the incarcerated. Mount Tamalpais College is committed not only to providing educational opportunities for incarcerated people but to upholding the highest educational standards while devoting plentiful resources to ensuring student success. We know that this work stands to profoundly benefit those incarcerated individuals, as well as the field of higher education, and society as a whole. We are grateful for the sustained, active support that ACCJC has demonstrated for a college dedicated solely to incarcerated people.
Read the press release announcing our accreditation here.
From 1996 through February 2020, Mount Tamalpais College was an extension site of Patten University (formerly Patten College) under the name Patten College at San Quentin and later Patten University at San Quentin. Starting in 2003, the campus received administrative and financial support from the Prison University Project, which was created for that purpose. Patten University was accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges from 1978 until its closure in 2020.
“For me, MTC is a space for community and belonging and a place where I could learn and grow. Now that it’s accredited, it feels like it’s growing and evolving along with me. This is our own college now, all of the people who built this together. Now we can say that this is ours.”
- Corey McNeil, MTC Graduate
"I am delighted but not surprised to learn that Mount Tamalpais College has received its accreditation. As a volunteer instructor at the college, I have seen first-hand the institution’s fundamental commitments to academic rigor and student engagement. It is no easy thing to provide an outstanding post-secondary educational experience for students who are thirsty for one in the crucible of San Quentin State Prison, but Mount Tamalpais does just that with great intentionality and impact.”
- Daniel Stid, Instructor
“The accreditation of Mt. Tam as an independent college represents years of dedicated service in helping an underserved segment of our society. The students of Mt. Tam experience an amazing high quality education. Graduates leave the college with knowledge and skills essential to becoming productive citizens. With an increased worldview comes increased possibilities and hope for a better future.”
- Ron Broomfield, Warden at San Quentin State Prison
“My degree is from Mt. Tam. and I’m proud! As a graduate, I saw MTC change the dynamics of San Quentin. It changed San Quentin into an institution where people who wanted to change their lives have the opportunity to do so. Accreditation gives the college the credit it deserves as a school that changes the lives and culture of our society.”
- Bonaru Richardson, MTC Graduate
Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
Student Achievement Data and Institution-Set Standards are available for download here.
Mount Tamalpais College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 331 J Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found on ACCJC’s website (accjc.org) under the Resources dropdown menu Complaint Process.
