Accreditation
University Accreditation
Oregon State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), one of the seven institutional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
What is accreditation?
Accreditation 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. Accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the United States is extended primarily through private, non-governmental, membership associations that establish accreditation standards, evaluate institutions against those criteria, and approve institutions that meet them.
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Accreditation renewal is in progress
The process for reaccreditation is now underway. Reaccreditation is a comprehensive evaluation of our institution’s programs, policies, and practices. It involves a thorough review by external experts who assess our compliance with established standards. The goal is to validate the quality of our educational offerings and institutional effectiveness.
We will produce two reports:
- In Year 6, the Policies, Regulations, and Finances Review due March 1, 2025
- In Year 7, the Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE) due in winter 2026
Shortly after submission of the EIE, we will have a site visit by a team of evaluators. The team will visit OSU-Cascades on April 7, 2026 and Corvallis from April 8 to 10, 2026. We'll provide updates on this page.
Notification of Comprehensive Visit
Oregon State University will host a comprehensive evaluation visit for renewal of its accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities this spring. The site visit will be at OSU-Cascades in Bend on April 7 and at the Corvallis campus April 8-10 as part of the regularly scheduled year seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness process. During the visit, an evaluation team will hold a series of meetings and forums with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and members of the OSU Board of Trustees. OSU is accredited by NWCCU, and its accreditation was last affirmed in 2019. The university completed a mid-cycle evaluation in 2022 and sbumitted its Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review in 2025.
The public is invited to send comments regarding Oregon State’s qualifications for accreditation directly to NWCCU, up to 10 days before the start of the evaluation visit. Comments can be submitted online or mailed to the Commission office at:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Attention: Third-Party Comment
8060 165th Ave NE, Suite 200
Redmond, WA 98052
All comments must be received by NWCCU by March 27 and must include the submitter's name.
Benefits of Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it indicates that through a rigorous peer evaluation process the institution is fulfilling its mission and that it meets accreditation standards. Students attending accredited institutions may be eligible to apply for federal financial aid. Accreditation also helps ensure that credits and degrees are recognized for purposes of transfer, admission, and employment.
Accreditation Statement
Oregon State University is a member institution with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Oregon State University’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The NWCCU’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status was acceptance of its Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review (PRFR) in 2025. Oregon State University has been continuously accredited since 1924.
NWCCU is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Oregon State University’s Accreditation Liaison Officer is Alix Gitelman, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. Direct all questions about institutional accreditation to Rebecca Mathern, Associate Vice Provost & University Registrar.