Accreditation and Membership
Public Notification
Seattle University’s comprehensive accreditation visit and invitation for comments
Seattle University is undergoing a reaffirmation of accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). This process occurs in a seven-year cycle, with the current cycle spanning from 2018 to 2025. The most recent Commission action was the Spring 2024 Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review (PRFR) Evaluation Committee’s review, where Seattle University was found to be in compliance with the NWCCU Standards for Accreditation.
As a member institution of NWCCU, most recently reaffirmed in 2018, Seattle University is in the final year of its seven-year accreditation cycle. In concurrence with review of the Spring 2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE) self-study report, a campus visit is scheduled to take place on April 23-25, 2025. Regional peer evaluators will meet with the campus community to engage in conversation regarding NWCCU Eligibility Requirements and Standards for Accreditation.
This public notification serves as an invitation to send third-party comments directly to the Commission prior to the scheduled campus visit. Signed comments must be received by NWCCU no later than April 13, 2025. Comments can be sent electronically or mailed directly to:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Attn: Third-Party Comment
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 200
Redmond, WA 98052
For questions regarding the University’s accreditation, please contact Bob Duniway (rduniway@seattleu.edu), Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness.
Statement on Regional Accreditation
Seattle University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding an institution’s accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 200
Redmond, WA 98052
425-558-4224
nwccu.org
Seattle University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The following academic and professional bodies accredit specific programs within the university (see individual college, school or program websites for more information).
Accreditations
- AACSB International-Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)
- American Bar Association
- Association of Theological Schools
- COAMFTE for Master of Arts in Couples and Family Therapy
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Council on Social Work Education
- Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering)
- Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
- Nonprofit Academic Centers Council
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (see below)
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)
Approvals
- American Chemical Society
- American Medical Association
- National Association of School Psychologists
- Washington State Board of Education
- Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission
Memberships
- American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
- American Association of Higher Education
- American College Personnel Association
- American Council of Learned Societies
- American Council on Education
- American Theological Library Association
- Association for Student Judicial Affairs
- Association of American Colleges
- Association of American Law Schools
- Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
- Association of College and University Housing Officers – International
- Association of Governing Boards
- Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education (AILACTE)
- Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
- The College Board
- Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
- Western Athletic Conference
- Institute for International Education
- International Federation of Catholic Universities
- Jesuit Education in Business Network
- Jesuit Association of Student Personnel Administrators
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators
- National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
- National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
- National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- National Humanities Alliance
- Nonprofit Academic Centers Council
- Northwest Association of Private College and University Libraries
- Orbis Cascade Alliance
- Pacific Northwest Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (PACRAO)
- Private Registrars of Washington (PROW)
- Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW)
- Washington Council on High School-College Relations