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Institutional Accreditation
The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. According to the NWCCU, accreditation is a process of recognizing educational institutions for performance, integrity, and quality; this recognition entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public. Accreditation also qualifies the institution and its enrolled students for access to federal funds that support teaching, research, and student financial aid.
When granted, accreditation by the NWCCU is not partial. It applies to the entire UW at the time of the most recent comprehensive evaluation. Accreditation indicates that the institution as a whole is substantially achieving its mission and that it meets the NWCCU’s expectations for compliance with accreditation criteria.
Accreditation of the University of Washington was reaffirmed in July 2021, after the submission of a comprehensive self-evaluation report as well as a site visit in April 2021. The UW completed its midcycle evaluation in spring 2024. The institution is scheduled to undergo a review of policies, regulations, and finances in spring 2028; the UW’s next comprehensive evaluation will take place in spring 2029.
Professional Program Accreditation
Specialized and professional accreditation in the United States certifies the academic quality of a specific degree program, ensuring that students receive an education consistent with standards of practice for that field or discipline. UW Tacoma programs hold the following accreditations:
| Academic Program | Accreditation Body | Last Review | Next Review |
| Business Administration (BA, MBSA) | Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International, the Association for Management Education) | 2021 | 2026 |
| Computer Engineering (BS) | Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) | 2022 | 2029 |
| Computer Science & Systems (BS) | Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) | 2022 | 2029 |
| Education (Teacher Certification & Education Administrator Certification Professional Certificate Program) |
2017 | 2029 | |
| Educational Specialist in School Psychology (EdS) | National Association of School Psychologists | 2025 | 2032 |
| Information Technology (BS) | Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) | 2022 | 2029 |
| Nursing (BSN, MN) | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) | 2019 | 2029 |
| Social Work (BASW, MSW) | Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) | 2022 | 2029 |
Academic Program Review
Academic program reviews guarantee the quality of the teaching, learning and scholarship of the graduate and undergraduate programs, which is at the heart of the UW’s educational and research missions. State law mandates that each educational program be reviewed every 10 years, although reviews are conducted at shorter intervals when appropriate. This peer review process involves assessments by individually assembled teams of UW faculty, as well as faculty from other leading research intensive universities.
