RivCo College May Become CA's Only Accredited Tribal School: Report

PALM DESERT, CA — California Indian Nations College in Palm Desert could soon become California's only fully accredited tribal college, EdSource reported.

The college is expected to become fully accredited within the next year after taking a big step toward its goal. By gaining preliminary approval for accreditation, the campus can now offer independent classes, transferable credits and distribute financial aid.

The college first opened in 2018 as a part of UC Riverside and has operated for the past six years as an affiliate of College of the Desert, the news site reported.

But the CINC's future hangs in the balance as the campus must now find the funding to stand alone and build its own campus.

Experts say the school would provide major benefits for Native American students, who tend to complete college at lower rates than other ethnic groups, Edsource reported.

"If you look at American Indian students who go to tribal colleges or universities, they’re four times more likely to earn their bachelor’s degree," Shawn Ragan, CINC’s chief operations officer, told Edsource.

While CINC would become the only accredited tribal school in California, it would not be the first. D-Q University operated in Davis from the early 1970s until closing in 2005.

Read more from EdSource: California tribal college looks to become independent, but financial questions loom