About
Accreditations & Regulations
Accreditation Commitment
A Pledge to Students’ Success
Northwest Nazarene University is dedicated to guiding you to your full God-given potential. Along that journey, we’re committed to holding ourselves to maximum accreditation standards and regulatory compliance. Explore this page further if you’re interested in learning more about the accreditations we hold and the regulations we follow. With every ”i” that we dot and “t” that we cross, we’re shouting “You are worth it!” to the students in our care. After all, you are the reason we are here.
General Information
- NNU offers programs leading to 19 degrees (AA, BA, BS, BSN, MA, MAcc, MACP, MAT, MBA, M.Div., M.Ed., MS, MSN, MSW, Ed.S., Ed.D., Ph.D., Psy.D. and Th.D.).
- Undergraduate degrees include 52 majors and 11 co-majors covering 78 areas of study.
- Graduate degrees include 28 areas of emphasis in seven departments: Business, Counselor Education, Education, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work and Theology.
In addition, Graduate Business offers a certificate program and Graduate Theology offers seven certificates. - The Center for Professional Development offers two certificate programs and a variety of continuing education courses and workshops that qualify for professional development credits and/or continuing education units, depending on the subject matter.
- NNU also offers concurrent credit for high school students and an online ministerial credentials course of study program that leads to ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.
Data at a Glance
Student Enrollment Data
Click to view information about traditional and non-traditional Student Enrollment.
Student Demographics Data
Click to view information about traditional and non-traditional Student Demographics.
Student Residency Data
Click to view information about traditional and non-traditional students places of residency.
Peer Comparison Data
Click to view information about peer comparisons.
Post Graduation Success Data
Click to view information about traditional and non-traditional student Post Graduation Success.
Student Retention, Graduation & Persistance Data
Click to view information about student retention, graduation and persistence.
About Accreditation
Accreditation is a collegial process of self-review and peer review for improvement of academic quality and public accountability of institutions and programs. It is a process of recognizing educational institutions for performance, integrity and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public. This recognition is extended largely through non-governmental, voluntary membership associations that establish accreditation criteria, evaluate institutions against those criteria and approve institutions that meet the criteria. Higher education in the United States is served by eight regional accrediting agencies.
NWCCU
Northwest Nazarene University has a long and distinguished history as an accredited institution, having first been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) as a junior college in 1930, and subsequently as a four-year college in 1937. NNU has maintained its regional accreditation with the NWCCU since that time. This NWCCU accreditation process is currently represented by a seven-year cycle of written reports and visits by peer-evaluation committees. In October 2023, NNU completed our most recent seven-year cycle with a peer-evaluation team site visit and successful review that led to our accreditation status being reaffirmed in spring 2024. The self-evaluation reports for the most recent accreditation cycle are linked below.
Specialized Accreditations
College of Business
The Business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Learn more.
Department of Counselor Education
The Counseling Department is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Learn more.
College of Education
The College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Learn more.
Department of Engineering
The BS Engineering Programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Learn more.
College of Nursing
The Nursing Department is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Learn more.
Department of Social Work
The Social Work Department is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Learn more.
Graduate School of Theology
The Graduate School of Theology is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Learn more.
Regulations
Through the years, we have refined our processes to meet regulations while also continuing to serve our students, faculty and staff well.
