Accreditation
NWCCU Accreditation
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is one of seven accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as reliable authorities on the quality of education offered by colleges and universities. Pacific University is accredited as an institution by the NWCCU, 8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052, (425) 558-4224.
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the NWCCU indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited university is one that has the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and is providing reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the NWCCU is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or of the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution. Accreditation is also the mechanism through which the federal government determines federal financial aid eligibility.
Pacific University has maintained its accredited status since the initial award in 1929. Pacific’s most recent re-accreditation was awarded in 2024, and its next re-evaluation will be in 2030.
In addition to its institutional accreditation, Pacific is licensed by the state of Oregon, and many of its programs also carry specialized professional accreditation through their respective accrediting agencies. Information about state authorization can be found below. For information on specialized accreditation, see the Specialized Accreditation page.
NWCCU Accreditation Cycle
The Northwest Commission operates with a seven-year evaluation and reaccreditation cycle. Pacific will undergo the following evaluations to complete the next cycle:
- Mid-Cycle Report and Site Visit, Fall 2026
- Year-Six Policies, Regulations and Financial Review, Fall 2029
- Year-Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness, Fall 2030
Recent Accreditation Reports
PUNID Required to access accreditation reports and documentation.
Accreditation Affirmation Letter, March 2024
Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness Report, August 2023
Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review Report (PRFR), September 2022
Pacific Accreditation Resources
Lisa Carstens, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Accreditation Liaison Officer
2023-2024 Accreditation Steering Committee Roster
2018-2019 Mission Fulfillment Report
2019-2020 Mission Fulfillment Report
2020-2021 Mission Fulfillment Report
2021-2022 Mission Fulfillment Report
2022-2023 Mission Fulfillment Report
Core Theme Multiyear Dashboard of Indicator Results
Pacific University State of Oregon License
Pacific University is duly licensed by the State of Oregon Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) as a Degree-Granting Institution of Higher Education. The ODA provides for the protection of the citizens of Oregon and their postsecondary schools by ensuring the quality of higher education and preserving the integrity of an academic degree as a public credential. ODA administers laws, standards, and services that protect students, holders of legitimately earned degrees, institutions, businesses, employers, patients or clients and licensing boards.
Office of Degree Authorization
1500 Valley River Drive, Suite 100
Eugene, OR 97401
541-687-7478
Students' Right to Information
Federal Regulation 668.43 (b) requirements for institutions of higher education. The institution must make available for review to any enrolled or prospective student upon request, a copy of the documents describing the institution's accreditation and its State, Federal or tribal approval or licensing. The institution must also provide its students or prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accreditor and with its State approval or licensing entity and any other relevant State official or agency that would appropriately handle a student's complaint.
Contact information for filing complaints with the ODA and/or NWCCU and with a specific relevant state official or agency that would appropriately handle a student’s complaint shall be provided by the Office of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Ann Barr-Gillespie
503-352-2114 | provost@pacificu.edu