Inspiring & Supporting Students

Accreditation

Lenoir-Rhyne University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Lenoir-Rhyne 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).

Initial Accreditation: 1928
Last Accreditation Review: 2018
Next Accreditation Review: 2028

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the regional accrediting agency for 11 states including North Carolina and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All SACSCOC member institutions are required to undergo a full accreditation review every 10 years and submit a Fifth-Year Interim Report between decennial reviews.

Purpose of Accreditation Status Publication
The purpose of publishing Lenoir-Rhyne University’s accreditation status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is to:

  1. Learn about the accreditation status of the institution,
  2. File a third-party comment at the time of the university’s decennial review, or
  3. File a complaint against the university for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement. It indicates that normal inquiries about the institution, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc. should be addressed directly to the institution and not to the commission’s office.

Program Accreditations

  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

    Accreditation
    The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) is a leading specialized accreditation association for business education — supporting, celebrating and rewarding teaching excellence. ACBSP accredits business, accounting and business-related programs at the associate, baccalaureate, master, and doctorate degree levels worldwide.

    • ACBSP promotes continuous improvement and recognizes excellence in the accreditation of business education programs around the world.
    • ACBSP acknowledges the importance of scholarly research and inquiry and believes that such activities facilitate improved teaching. ACBSP encourages faculty involvement within the contemporary business world to enhance the quality of classroom instruction and to contribute to student learning.
    • ACBSP offers an accreditation process uniquely focused on teaching excellence and student outcomes. And because the council believes ACBSP success is driven by the success of its members, ACBSP officers and members align those programs and the accreditation process to meet the individual needs of each member.

    11520 West 119th Street, Overland Park, KS 66213
    Phone: 913.339.9356
    www.acbsp.org

    Initial Accreditation: April 2002
    Last Accreditation Review: June 2013
    Next Accreditation Review: July 2024

  • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)

    120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
    Chicago, IL 60606-6995
    800.877.1600 ext. 5400
    www.eatrightpro.org/acend

    Initial Accreditation: 2016
    Next Accreditation Review: 2023

  • Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education

    ACOTE; c/o Accreditation Department
    American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
    6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
    Phone: 301.652.AOTA

    Initial Accreditation: December 1996
    Last Accreditation Review: December 2018
    Next Accreditation Review Academic Year: 2025/2026

    The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE c/o AOTA),7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD, 20814, telephone (301) 652-6611. The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is located at One Bank Street Suite 300 Gaithersburg, MD 20878; (301) 990-7979. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

    Lenoir-Rhyne University’s School of Occupational Therapy was reaccredited by ACOTE on November 30, 2018, for a period of seven years for academic year 2018-2019 to 2025-2026.

    The LR School of Occupational Therapy sponsors one Occupational Therapy program with two cohorts located in Hickory, N.C. and Columbia, S.C. The program vision, mission, curriculum and student learning outcomes are identical for both sites, incorporating strategic use of interactive video networking for dynamic learning to promote the achievement of student learning outcomes between cohorts. Full-time faculty on both campuses are licensed occupational therapists. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy examination.

  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

    Physician Assistant Studies, M.S.
    Lenoir-Rhyne University has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Lenoir-Rhyne University anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2026, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the June 2025 ARC-PA meeting. 

    Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

    The Lenoir-Rhyne PA Studies program will not commence in the event that provisional accreditation is not received, and the enrollment deposit will be refunded in full.

  • Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation

    Lenoir-Rhyne University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Lenoir-Rhyne University is working toward accreditation of its educator preparation programs under the AAQEP standards with an anticipated Quality Assurance Review in Fall 2022.

  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

    655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001
    Phone: 202.887.6791
    Fax: 202.887.8476
    www.ccneaccreditation.org

    Baccalaureate Nursing Degree Program
    Initial Accreditation: 2005
    Next Accreditation Review: 2029

    The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Lenoir-Rhyne University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

    Master’s Nursing Degree Program
    Initial Accreditation: 2014
    Next Accreditation Review: 2029

    The Master’s degree program in nursing at Lenoir-Rhyne University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

    Doctor of Nursing Practice

    Initial Accreditation: September 18, 2019
    Next Accreditation Review: Fall 2024

    The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Lenoir-Rhyne University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

    1001 North Fairfax Street
    Suite 510
    Alexandria, VA 22314
    www.cacrep.org

    Initial Accreditation: 2014
    Next Accreditation Review: March 2022

  • Council on Education for Public Health

    1010 Wayne Avenue Suite 220
    Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
    Phone: 202.789-1050
    Fax: 202.789-1895
    www.ceph.org

    Accreditation Date: June 2017
    Next Accreditation Date: 2022

  • The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada

    Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and the following degree programs are approved: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts Religion, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Sacred Theology.

    The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
    10 Summit Park Drive
    Pittsburgh, PA 15275, USA
    Phone: 412.788.6505
    Fax: 412.788.6510
    www.ats.edu

    Initial accreditation: 1944
    Last Accreditation review: 2020
    Next Accreditation review: 2030