University of Puget Sound is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). You can learn more about the NWCCU and accreditation at www.nwccu.org.
Accreditation by the NWCCU is not permanent nor awarded for a fixed number of years. Rather, accreditation must be reaffirmed periodically through a process of self evaluation and peer evaluation grounded in the commission's Standards for Accreditation. Review or evaluation occurs at specific points during a seven-year cycle. The current standards require a Mid-Cycle Review in year three; a Policies, Regulations and Financial Review (PRFR) in year six; and the Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE) in year seven. Each of these requires a self-evaluation report written by the institution followed by an on-site visit of peer evaluators. The peer evaluators submit a written evaluation which is shared with the Commission, who review both reports and take action of either reaffirming accreditation, asking for additional information, or taking other action.
Program Accreditation & Memberships
In addition to institutional accreditation from the NWCCU, the following programs have specialized accreditation or status:
- The Bachelor of Science Degree in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puget Sound is approved by the American Chemical Society.
- The School of Education at the University of Puget Sound meets the standards of the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) for professional certification of teachers and school counselors. The Master of Education in Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
- The School of Music at the University of Puget Sound is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the accrediting agency designated by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of music curricula in higher education. In the field of teacher education, NASM cooperates with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The NASM is also a constituent member of the American Council of Education. Baccalaureate programs accredited include professional degrees in performance, music education, music with elective studies in business, and the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music.
- The School of Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
- The School of Physical Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703.706.3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http//www.capteonline.org. Accreditation qualifies the physical therapy graduate to take the licensing examination offered by any of the 50 states.
- The Prison Education Program (PEP) was approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) effective April 26, 2024. This includes the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Liberal Studies through the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (FEPPS). With this approval from the NWCCU, the University may now proceed to apply for approval by the United States Department of Education (USDE).
Enrolled or prospective students wishing to review documents describing the university’s accreditation may do so in the Associate Deans’ Office, Jones 212.
Accreditation Reports and Documentation
Verification Letter
For the purposes of external reporting, a letter verifying Puget Sound’s accreditation is available.
2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness
Puget Sound’s Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE) was submitted to NWCCU in February 2025. The EIE report is submitted during the final year of the institution’s seven-year accreditation cycle and focuses on Standard One: Student Success & Institutional Mission and Effectiveness. The submission of the report is followed by a comprehensive site visit by a team of NWCCU reviewers, scheduled for April 23–25, 2025.
You must be signed in to your Puget Sound account to view this report.
2024 Policies, Regulations, and Finances Review
Puget Sound’s Policies, Regulations, and Finances Review (PRFR) was submitted to NWCCU in February 2024. The PRFR is submitted during year six of the institution's seven-year accreditation cycle and focuses on Standard Two: Governance, Resources, and Capacity.
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2021 Mid-Cycle Review
Puget Sound’s Mid-Cycle Review took place in Spring 2021 and included an institutional report and a peer evaluation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the visit was virtual, and an onsite visit will be arranged when it can be done safely. The purpose of the Mid-Cycle Review is to provide feedback to the institution in preparation for the Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness, and focuses on student achievement and program assessment. In 2021, Puget Sound profiled the Core Curriculum and the Gender and Queer Studies program.