Accreditation

Regional Accreditation

Marymount University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Marymount University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA  30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Regional accreditation validates that Marymount is a healthy institution with the resources and infrastructure to provide students with a quality educational experience. It entitles us to offer Title IV funds offered by the US Department of Education to our students. It also ensures for our students that their courses and degree are recognized by employers and other higher education institutions.

Marymount University first received accreditation from SACSCOC in 1958, and it has received reaffirmation of that accreditation every ten years since that time. The last reaffirmation of our accreditation occurred in 2018, and our next reaffirmation will take place in 2028.  The reaffirmation process, required every ten years, is designed to assure the continuing educational quality and improve the effectiveness of the university. The process helps the university by stimulating evaluation and improvement, while providing a means of continuing accountability to our stakeholders and to the public. In addition to the ten-year reaffirmation, SACSCOC requires universities to submit reports mid-cycle, called the Fifth-Year Interim Report, as an additional tool for universities to stay on a track of continuous improvement and accountability.

2018 Reaffirmation of Accreditation

In the summer of 2015, preparations began for the 2018 accreditation reaffirmation with the creation of a steering committee comprised of both faculty and staff members.   the university was asked to document compliance with 90+ core requirements, comprehensive standards, and federal requirements including the development of a Quality Enhancement Plan.

Over the course of two years, the university gathered and documented confirmation of Marymount’s compliance with these various standards, building a database of evidence and thoughtfully responding to each principle in writing. Marymount successfully completed its Compliance Certification in September 2017. The Compliance Certification was reviewed by a SACSCOC Off-Site Committee in November 2017. The committee requested additional information in the form of a Focused Report that was reviewed by a SACSCOC On-Site Review Committee in February 2018. Marymount also responded to newly-adopted accreditation standards by submitting an additional report which was reviewed by the On-Site Committee along with the Focused Report. In December 2018, the SACSCOC Board of Trustees voted to officially reaffirm Marymount University’s accreditation.

2018 Reaffirmation Materials

The next report, the Fifth-Year Interim Report, is due in March 2024 and will be guided by the 2018 Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement.

For more information on SACSCOC accreditation and the evaluation process, as well as all regional accreditation actions related to Marymount, please visit their website at https://www.sacscoc.org/. You may also contact SACSCOC at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500.

Program/Specialized Accreditation

Specialized accreditation for individual schools and academic programs at Marymount has been granted by a number of national organizations. This listing is available here.