Accreditation

The morning sun lights up a Gonzaga sign and the steeples behind.

Gonzaga as an Institution

Gonzaga University is accredited, as an institution, by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation is a judgment by a regional accreditation body that we are carrying out our mission. Internally, it is a process that helps us to identify our successes and our failures with the goal of continuous improvement in serving our students and our other constituents. It is recognized as a public indicator of institutional value and essential for receiving federal financial aid.

External evaluators representing NWCCU will visit Gonzaga University April 15-16, 2024, as part of the accreditation process. Information about the visit schedule is forthcoming.

In addition to institutional accreditation, Gonzaga participates in more specialized accreditation for various programs, listed below.

College of Arts & Sciences

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The ACS Approval Program promotes excellence in chemistry education for undergraduate students through approval of baccalaureate chemistry programs. ACS-approved programs offer a broad-based and rigorous chemistry education that gives students intellectual, experimental, and communication skills to become effective scientific professionals.

Music

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Musics (NASM). Founded in 1924, the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 633 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for music and music-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other music-related endeavors.

School of Business Administration

The School of Business is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a specialized accrediting board recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

School of Education

All Degree Programs & Certification Programs

All degree programs and certification programs in the School of Education fully approved by the Washington State Professional Educators Standards Board (PESB)

M.A. School of Counseling

The School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage and Family Counseling master’s programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Master's Programs offered in Canada

Master's programs offered in British Columbia, Canada by the School of Education have received consent from the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education and the Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB). Master's programs offered in Alberta, Canada have been approved by the Alberta Ministry of Education and Technology, and the Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC).

School of Engineering & Applied Science

Civil Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Program Criteria and the Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.

Computer Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Program Criteria and the Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.

Computer Science (BS only)

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Program Criteria and the Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Programs Program Criteria.

Electrical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Program Criteria and the Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.

Engineering Management

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Program Criteria and the Engineering Management and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.

Mechanical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Program Criteria and the Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.

School of Health Sciences

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

The Anesthesiology Education master's program is accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA), part of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).

Department of Nursing

Programs in the Department of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a specialized accrediting board recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

School of Law

The School of Law is accredited by Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA). The U.S. Department of Education has recognized the Council as the national agency for the accreditation of programs leading to the first professional degree in law.

English Language Center

English as a Second Language Program

The Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) is a specialized accrediting agency that focuses on post-secondary intensive English language programs and institutions. CEA’s purpose is to provide a systematic approach by which programs and institutions can demonstrate their compliance with accepted standards, pursue continuous improvement, and be recognized for doing so. CEA conducts accreditation activities in the U.S. and internationally.


To file a complaint with our accrediting body, please follow the steps outlined in this document. California residents, visit DCA.gov.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has authority to investigate student complaints against specific schools. WSAC may not be able to investigate every student complaint. Visit https://www.wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints for information regarding the WSAC complaint process.