Academic Accreditation

Accreditation matters. By showing a university has met and is maintaining a high level of standards set by an independent accrediting body, students are ensured the degree they work so hard to obtain has value.

 
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Accreditation matters. By showing a university has met and is maintaining a high level of standards set by an independent accrediting body, students are ensured the degree they work so hard to obtain has value.

 

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Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of ACU may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (sacscoc.org).

SACSCOC is required by the federal government to monitor compliance with the substantive change policy and to approve any major changes. Substantive change is a federal term for any “significant modification of the nature and scope of an accredited institution.” ACU has adopted a Substantive Change Policy, which outlines its internal procedure related to ACU’s compliance with substantive change requirements.  After reviewing the policy, please contact the ACU’s SACSCOC Liaison, Chris Riley, with any questions or for more information.

Department and Program Accreditations

Many of our programs have received additional accreditation from the following associations:

  • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
  • Accreditation Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC)
  • Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
  • Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
  • Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
  • Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
  • Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing (CCNE)
  • Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (Computing Theory concentration of the BS in Computer Science)
  • Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA, formerly FIDER)
  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
  • Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
  • National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)

In addition, some ACU programs hold approval by state and national associations:

  • American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
  • National Council on Family Relations – Certified Family Life Educator (NCFR/CFLE)
  • Texas Board of Nursing