Membership Criteria

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The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) has four types of membership: Institutional, International, Associate, and Affiliate. CIC's membership now numbers more than 580 colleges, universities, and organizations. We invite you to join them!

In addition, retired presidents from CIC member institutions may be put on CIC's ongoing mailing list as a Subscriber.

Current membership lists:

Colleges and Universities (Institutional, International, and Associate Members)
Organizations and Associations (Affiliate Members)

Institutional Membership

Institutional members are independent colleges and universities. Currently, more than 550 institutions are CIC members. Membership has grown 52 percent from 1982 to 2006, with an average retention rate of 99 percent. Click here for a current membership list.

Eligibility. Institutional members must be nonprofit, independent, baccalaureate degree-granting colleges and universities of liberal arts and sciences that:

offer a program leading to a bachelor of arts degree or its equivalent;
demonstrate a commitment to liberal arts and sciences by such means as requiring for graduation approximately one-third of all courses taken to be in those fields; and
offer several areas of concentration in the liberal arts and sciences disciplines, or enroll a large percentage of all students in these programs.

A college or university in the United States must possess at least Candidacy Status of a United States regional association. In addition, an applicant college or university must have been in operation for a minimum of three years.

Benefits. Member institutions receive a range of benefits.

Dues. Dues schedules vary by undergraduate enrollment size and are set by an annual vote of the membership. Click here for the dues schedule for 2007-2008.

If you are interested in joining, please complete the application form. We will be pleased to answer any questions or send you additional materials.

International Membership

Eligibility. CIC International Membership is open to independent, baccalaureate degree-granting institutions whose main educational programs and facilities are located outside the United States. A college outside of the United States must meet the accreditation standards set by the governing body of education in its country that is deemed comparable to that of American independent liberal arts institutions. Click here for a current membership list.

Dues. Annual dues are $900.

If you are interested in joining, please complete the application form. We will be pleased to answer any questions or send you additional materials.

Associate Membership

Eligibility. Associate members must be nonprofit, independent, two-year degree-granting colleges and universities of liberal arts and sciences that:

offer a program leading to an associates degree or its equivalent;
demonstrate a commitment to liberal arts and sciences by such means as requiring for graduation approximately one-third of all courses taken to be in those fields; and
offer several areas of concentration in the liberal arts and sciences disciplines, or enroll a large percentage of all students in these programs.

Dues. Annual dues are $900.

If you are interested in joining, please complete the application form. We will be pleased to answer any questions or send you additional materials.

Affiliate Membership

Eligibility. CIC Affiliate Membership is open to nonprofit educational associations and organizations serving independent colleges and universities. Click here for a current affiliate membership list.

Dues. Annual dues are $295.

If you are interested in joining, please complete the application form. We will be pleased to answer any questions or send you additional materials.

Retired President Subscriber

Retired presidents may maintain a formal association with CIC by becoming a Subscriber. Subscribers receive a variety of CIC mailings, including the Independent newsletter, conference announcements, and regular program information. In addition, Subscribers may attend the Presidents Institute at a reduced rate.

Eligibility. This service is restricted to retired presidents of CIC member institutions.

Fee. The annual fee is $25.

If you would like to take advantage of this service, please submit your resume and the $25 Subscriber fee to Membership Manager, CIC, One Dupont Circle, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20036. For additional information contact Kim Farmer at kfarmer@cic.nche.edu or at (202) 466-7230.