The mission of Charter Oak State College is to:

• offer coherent, college-level curricula and degree programs which incorporate transfer credit, examinations, and other methods of credit and competency validation;
• develop valid and reliable tests and other methods to evaluate and assess experiential and extra collegiate learning as alternatives to classroom study;
• provide access to educationally sound learning through a variety of means including video-, computer- and other electronically-mediated technologies;
• inform and guide the public about opportunities for earning credentials by alternative means;
• provide testing and credit banking services, and information regarding such services, to the public;
• extend access to higher education to all adults who demonstrate the ability to perform on the collegiate level and to foster the enrollment and graduation of diverse populations; and
• encourage innovation in meeting the needs of adult learners and to serve as an advocate for adult learners in higher education.

In all of its activities, Charter Oak State College rigorously upholds standards of high quality and seeks to inspire adults with the self-enrichment potential of nontraditional higher education.