Accreditation is a process by which educational institutions or units within an institution are recognized for their performance, integrity and quality. This recognition entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public, and the process of accreditation creates a process by which they can continuously improve. The University of Washington and the Department of Hearing Sciences are leaders in education and research, and below is information on our accreditation status and national rankings.

University of Washington Institutional Accreditation

The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), one of six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  This accreditation recognizes the UW for performance, integrity, and quality and qualifies the institution and its enrolled students for access to federal funds that support teaching, research, and student financial aid.  When granted, accreditation by the NWCCU is not partial. It applies to the entire UW at the time of the most recent comprehensive evaluation. Accreditation indicates that the institution as a whole is substantially achieving its mission and that it meets the NWCCU’s expectations for compliance with accreditation criteria.  Currently enrolled or prospective students should contact the Office of the Registrar to review accreditation documents for the University.

The UW is also a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that comprises 65 leading public and private research universities in the United States and Canada.  Founded in 1900 to advance the international standing of U.S. research universities, AAU today focuses on issues that are important to research-intensive universities, such as funding for research, research policy issues, and graduate and undergraduate education. AAU membership is by invitation and is based on the high quality of programs of academic research and scholarship and undergraduate, graduate, and professional education in a number of fields, as well as general recognition that a university is outstanding by reason of the excellence of its research and education programs. AAU member universities are on the leading edge of innovation, scholarship, and solutions that contribute to the nation's economy, security, and well-being.  The 63 AAU universities in the United States award nearly one-half of all U.S. doctoral degrees and ~50 percent of those in the sciences and engineering.
 

SPHSC Department Specialized Accreditation

Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology

The Master of Science (M.S.) education programs in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Washington, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.  Currently enrolled or prospective students should contact ASHA or the department if they wish to review programmatic accreditation documents.
 

Clinical Graduate Program Rankings

U.S. News and World Report ranks the top graduate, health degree programs across the nation. The Speech-Language Pathology Master of Science (M.S.) programs at the UW are ranked #5 out of 280 accredited programs.