University Accreditation
University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
For additional information, visit www.ncahlc.org.
Business Accreditation
The Associate of Arts in Business, Associate of Arts in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Business, Master of Business Administration, Executive Master of Business Administration, Master of Management, Doctor of Management and Doctor of Business Administration programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
For additional information, visit www.acbsp.org.
Nursing Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
For additional information, visit www.aacn.nche.edu.
Teacher Education Accreditation
The Master of Arts in Education program with options in Elementary Teacher Education and Secondary Teacher Education is preaccredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for a period of five years, from December 20, 2007 to December 20, 2012.
For additional information, visit www.teac.org.
Counseling Accreditation
The Master of Science in Counseling program in Community Counseling (Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona campuses) and the Master of Science in Counseling program in Mental Health Counseling (Salt Lake City, Utah campuses) are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
For additional information, visit www.cacrep.org.
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Questions about Accreditation
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a process of quality assurance and review that institutions participate in, generally on a voluntary basis. Accrediting associations are most often groups of like institutions whose purpose is to establish standards by which appropriate practice can be judged. Accreditation is a symbol of the quality of an institution's educational programs. Accreditation indicates both an institution's compliance with the standards held by accrediting bodies and the reasonable grounds for believing it will continue to meet them.
How is University of Phoenix accredited?
University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. University of Phoenix was granted initial accreditation in 1978 and the accreditation was reaffirmed in 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, and 2002. The next comprehensive evaluation visit by The Higher Learning Commission will be conducted in 2012.
What is regional accreditation?
Regional accreditation is an institutional-level accreditation status granted by one of six U.S. regional accrediting bodies. According to The Higher Learning Commission, this type of accreditation evaluates the institution as a whole, assessing "formal educational activity" as well as governance and administration, financial stability, admissions and student personnel services, institutional resources, student academic achievement, institutional effectiveness and relationships with constituencies inside and outside the institution.
What is national accreditation?
National accreditation is granted to specialized institutions—technical schools, health or computer related institutions, for example—that offer at least an associate’s degree. The national accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are:
- Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges
- Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
- Accrediting Commission for Career Schools/Colleges of Technology
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
- Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools
- The Association of Theological Schools
- Council on Occupational Education
- Distance Education and Training Council
What is programmatic accreditation?
Often associated with professional organizations, programmatic or specialized accreditation applies to specific programs or coursework within an institution.
Why doesn't University of Phoenix apply for more than one regional accreditation?
Accreditation by more than one regional accrediting body is not permitted by the U.S. Department of Education. Regional accrediting bodies grant accreditation to an institution as a whole regardless of where it may operate, even locations that fall outside of a regional body's geographic scope. Additionally, the six regional accrediting bodies recognize each other's accreditations. Seeking
additional regional accreditations is therefore unnecessary.
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Questions about ACBSP
Are the business programs at University of Phoenix programmatically accredited?
Our business programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
What is the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)?
ACBSP is one of two major internationally active organizations which accredits business schools and programs. It is also one of only two business program accreditation organizations recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is the organization that accredits the accrediting groups. ACBSP was the first major business program accreditation organization recognized by CHEA, and this recognition has been in place since 2001.
Which business programs at University of Phoenix are accredited by ACBSP?ACBSP has accredited the following programs: Associate of Arts in Business, Associate of Arts in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Business, Master of Business Administration, Executive Master of Business Administration, Master of Management, Doctor of Management and Doctor of Business Administration.
Why did University of Phoenix seek business programmatic accreditation from ACBSP?
The standards for accreditation by ACBSP align with the mission of teaching institutions, like the University of Phoenix, with an emphasis on student learning, supported by continuous quality improvement and faculty scholarship.
Are there other organizations that accredit business programs at colleges and universities?
There are only two major organizations that accredit business programs nationally and internationally. One is ACBSP that accredits the business programs at University of Phoenix. The other is AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International. Each of these accredits business programs at approximately the same number of colleges and universities.
Is there a difference between the two business program accrediting organizations?
ACBSP standards for academic excellence are designed to align with the mission of teaching institutions with an emphasis on student learning, supported by continuous quality improvement and faculty scholarship. This is an excellent match with the mission and focus of University of Phoenix. The AACSB standards for academic excellence are designed to align with the mission of research institutions with an emphasis on faculty scholarship and research while recognizing the value of teaching and continuous quality improvement. These do not match as well with University of Phoenix’s mission and focus on student learning and teaching.
Is it unusual for a college or university to have its business programs accredited?
Yes, among the colleges and universities in the United States that offer business programs, approximately one-quarter have earned programmatic accreditation from one of the two accrediting organizations.
Why is accreditation of University of Phoenix business programs significant? What difference does it make?
Since only about one in four business schools offer accredited programs, this means University of Phoenix is part of an elite group in the higher education community which serves business students. It means University of Phoenix has met the highest, internationally recognized standards of academic excellence in business education. It means that the value of University of Phoenix business degrees is higher in the marketplace. Our business degrees are more prestigious than degrees awarded from non-programmatically accredited business schools. It means that, unlike business programmatic accreditation awarded from other organizations, ACBSP programmatic accreditation applies to ALL levels of our business programs (associate degrees to doctoral degrees). This impacts many more students across more stages of their academic studies, with a wider range of value-added outcomes to benefit our students.
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Questions about CCNE
What is CCNE?
CCNE is the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. CCNE is recognized as a specialized accrediting body, focusing on baccalaureate and graduate education nursing programs. For more information on the specific standards required to obtain CCNE accreditation, please visit: www.aacn.nche.edu/accreditation.
Is University of Phoenix accredited by CCNE?
Yes. Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Questions about CACREP
What is CACREP?
CACREP is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body formed as an affiliate of the American Counseling Association (ACA). CACREP grants specialized accreditation to "counselor education and related programs." For more information on the specific standards required to obtain CACREP accreditation please visit www.cacrep.org.
Is University of Phoenix accredited by CACREP?
Yes. The Master of Science in Counseling program in Community Counseling (Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona campuses) and the Master of Science in Counseling program in Mental Health Counseling (Salt Lake City, Utah campuses) are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
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University of Phoenix is approved to operate in most U.S. states and other countries, either through licensure, registration, general or specific approvals, consent or exemption. Specific approval-related statements that are required by some states or provinces are as follows:
Florida: University of Phoenix is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 2308.
Georgia: University of Phoenix is authorized under the Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990.
Indiana: Fully accredited by the Indiana Commission for Postsecondary Proprietary Education. AC-0188. Indianapolis Campus is located at 7999 Knue Road, Suites 100 & 500, Indianapolis, IN 46250; Northwest Indiana Campus is located at 8401 Ohio Street, Merrillville, IN 46410.
Ohio: Registration Number is 1154320. Cleveland Campus is located at 5005 Rockside Road, Suite 130, Independence, OH 44131-2194; Cincinnati Campus is located at 9050 Centre Pointe Drive, Suite 250, West Chester, OH 45069-4875; Columbus Campus is located at 8415 Pulsar Place, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43240-4032.
Puerto Rico: University of Phoenix operates under a renewal license granted by the Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education.
South Carolina: Licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The campus is located at 1001 Pinnacle Point Drive, Columbia, SC 29223.
Tennessee: Memphis Campus is located at 65 Germantown Court, Suite 100, Cordova, TN 38018; Nashville Campus is located at 616 Marriott Drive, Suite 150, Nashville, TN 37214; Franklin Campus is located at 377 Riverside Drive, Franklin, TN 37064; Chattanooga Campus is located at 1208 Pointe Centre Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
Virginia: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has authorized University of Phoenix to offer degree or certificate programs. Any course, degree or certificate program offered has been approved by the University of Phoenix governing board. Credit earned for coursework in Virginia can be transferred to University of Phoenix’s principal location outside Virginia as part of the University’s existing degree or certificate programs.
Alberta: University of Phoenix is approved to offer specific degree programs by Alberta Advanced Education. Degrees are conferred by University of Phoenix through its Central Administration office, located in Phoenix, Arizona.
British Columbia: The term "university" is used under the written consent of the Minister of Advanced Education, effective December 20, 2006, having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the minister. Degrees are conferred by University of Phoenix through its Central Administration office, located in Phoenix, Arizona.
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University of Phoenix also maintains voluntary memberships with numerous organizations, including:
- American Council on Education
- Association of American Colleges
- American Association for Adult and Continuing Education
- American Association for Higher Education
- American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business
- Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
- College and University Personnel Association
- Arizona Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
- American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
- Independent Colleges and Universities of Arizona
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Western Institute of Nursing
- National Board for Certified Counselors
- National Association for Foreign Student Admissions
- Association of International Educators
- National Association of Veterans Program Administrators
- Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
- Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Support
- various professional, program-specific organizations
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