
CIIS holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval of an individual professional program.
This status is relevant to federal financial aid eligibility and is commonly considered when other institutions evaluate transfer credit. Neither accreditation nor completed coursework automatically guarantees that credits will transfer. Applicants pursuing a licensed profession should also check the requirements of the state where they intend to practice and confirm whether their particular CIIS degree, supervised training, and any applicable program approval satisfy them.
CIIS does not operate under an open-admission policy. Requirements depend substantially on whether an applicant seeks undergraduate degree completion or admission to a specific graduate program.
Undergraduate applicants should be prepared to document high school completion or an equivalent credential, such as a GED, along with prior college coursework when applicable. Graduate applicants generally need to document a qualifying prior degree and meet the requirements of their chosen program. A program may ask for a statement of purpose, recommendations, an interview, or evidence of relevant experience; applicants should use that program's current admissions instructions rather than assume one checklist applies across CIIS.
Applicants educated outside the United States should check credential-evaluation and English-proficiency instructions for their applicant category. Because entry terms and review schedules can differ by program, the relevant deadline is the one published for the intended degree and start term.
CIIS's reported application fee is $30. Applicants should check the fee displayed for their specific program and application route before submitting, since a general institutional figure does not establish that every applicant category pays the same amount.
Anyone who needs a fee waiver should ask admissions about eligibility and the request process before paying or submitting an application. An application fee is separate from tuition and from any deposit that might be requested after an admission offer.
CIIS is not identified as operating an Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC unit on its campus. Applicants interested in commissioning should not assume that enrollment at CIIS provides access to ROTC through another San Francisco-area institution.
Cross-enrollment, if an ROTC host permits it, requires approval under that host program's rules and may involve scheduling, eligibility, scholarship, and post-graduation service requirements. The relevant ROTC host and CIIS admissions office would need to confirm an arrangement before an applicant relies on it.
CIIS generally accepts transfer credit from other accredited institutions and admits transfer students for fall and spring entry. Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of particular courses toward a degree are separate decisions.
Applicants should submit the college transcripts required by their program and request a degree-specific review of prior coursework. CIIS reports accepting some credit earned through Advanced Placement, CLEP subject examinations, DSST/DANTES examinations, and life-experience assessment; the amount and degree applicability of such credit depend on institutional rules. Before enrolling, a prospective transfer student should obtain an evaluation showing which credits satisfy requirements, which count only as electives, and how much study must be completed at CIIS.
Students should not assume that CIIS offers a conventional semester-long study-abroad exchange for every degree. International or travel-based learning, when offered, may instead be tied to a particular course or graduate program.
A student considering an external study-abroad program should seek academic approval before committing to it. The questions to settle in advance are whether the credits will count toward the CIIS degree, whether participation will affect required in-person training or course sequencing, and whether any financial aid can apply.
Application fee
$30Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoHigh school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
NoGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, SpringData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.