Institutional Accreditation

Vanderbilt University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees. Vanderbilt University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Vanderbilt 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).

Please contact SACSCOC only in relation to Vanderbilt’s accreditation. Inquiries about admission requirements, educational programs, and financial aid should be directed to the university.

  • Reaffirmation of Accreditation

    Reaffirmation of accreditation occurs every 10 years, with interim reports due every 5 years. A memorandum confirming Vanderbilt’s reaffirmation of accreditation may be found here.

    Vanderbilt’s next reaffirmation of accreditation will take place in 2026-2027. As part of the reaffirmation process, Vanderbilt will submit 1) a Compliance Certification demonstrating compliance with requirements, standards, and federal regulations, and 2) a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) that addresses a focused topic or issue related to enhancing student learning.

  • Substantive Change Policy

    Vanderbilt is responsible for notifying or obtaining approval from SACSCOC before any substantive change in its programs is implemented. A substantive change is any significant modification or expansion of a degree program and includes offering coursework or programs at a more advanced level, significantly changing the content, duration, or delivery method of a program, initiating joint degrees, and offering programs/courses through collaborative agreements. If a department, school or college, is contemplating a substantive change, it should reach out to OAPRAA to determine if the change needs to be reported to SACSCOC in advance.

    Please review Vanderbilt’s VU Substantive Change Policy and contact our office for more information on the procedures for implementing a substantive change.

  • Student Achievement

    Vanderbilt University uses many metrics of student achievement to evaluate the success of its educational programs. In SACSCOC’s Policy on Institutional Obligations for Public Disclosure, student achievement information may include “reliable information in retention, graduation, course completion, licensure examinations, and job placement rates and other measures of student success appropriate to institutional mission.” Vanderbilt’s student achievement information may be found here.

  • Programmatic Accrediting Agencies and Other Organizational Affiliations

    Many of Vanderbilt’s academic programs and operational units maintain accreditation through a discipline-specific agency and or professional association, as shown below.

    Programmatic and Operational Accreditation

    Programs and Operational Units Accredited at Vanderbilt UniversityAccrediting AgencyNext Review
    Audiology (doctoral program) and Speech-Language (master's degree program)American Speech-Language-Hearing Association - Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA)2028
    Bachelor of Engineering programs in Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electrical & Computer, and Mechanical EngineeringEngineering Accreditation Commission of ABET www.abet.org2025
    Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceComputing Accreditation Commission of ABET www.abet.org2025
    Business (professional programs)Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)2028
    Clinical Psychology (doctoral programs)American Psychological Association (APA)2023
    Dietetics (post-baccalaureate internship program)Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)2025
    Genetic Counseling (master's)Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC)2028
    Human Development Counseling (professional programs) Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)2030
    Institutional AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)2027
    Law (professional degree program)Association of American Law Schools (AALS)2026-27
    Law (professional schools)American Bar Association (ABA)2026-27
    Master of Public Health Program, School of MedicineCouncil of Education for Public Health 2031
    Medical Physics (master's and doctoral)Committee on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP)2025
    Medicine (programs leading to M.D. degree)Liaison Committee on Medical Education2028
    Ministry (professional education)Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)2025
    Nurse Midwifery (master of science in nursing, post-graduate certificate)Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)2031
    Nursing (doctor of nursing practice)Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)2030
    Nursing (master of science)Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)2030
    Nursing (post-graduate certificate)Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)2030
    Professional Psychology (predoctoral internship programs)American Psychological Association (APA)2023
    Public Health (master's)The Council on Education for Public Health2023
    Teacher Education (baccalaureate and professional degree programs)Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)2024
    Vanderbilt Police DepartmentCommission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies2023
    Vanderbilt Police DepartmentInternational Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)2024
    Vanderbilt Police DepartmentTennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (TLEA)2023

    Additional Affiliations

    Vanderbilt University is affiliated with the following organizations:

    • Association of American Universities (AAU)
    • American Council on Education (ACE)
    • American Council of Learned Societies
    • Council for Higher Education Accreditation
    • Tennessee Board of Nursing, Association of Graduate Schools
    • Council of Graduate Schools
    • Tennessee Council of Graduate Schools
    • Southern Council of Graduate Schools
    • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
    • National League for Nursing, Inc.
    • Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities
  • Institutional, Financial Aid and State Authorization Information

    The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) has determined that Vanderbilt University is exempt from Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 20 of the Tennessee Code Annotated and Chapter 1540-01-02 of the Rules of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

    The information in accordance with the disclosure requirements for institutions participating in federal financial aid programs under Title IV may be found here.

    Vanderbilt University is an institutional member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), a voluntary method to oversee distance education. Through NC-SARA membership, Vanderbilt may offer distance education courses in programs in states who are also NC-SARA members without further approval from those states’ higher education agency. Additional information about state authorization of out-of-state activities and distance education complaint and grievances procedures may be found here.