Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

 
FAU’S ACCREDITATION STATUS

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctorate degrees. Florida Atlantic University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Florida Atlantic 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).

Accreditation by SACSCOC signifies that the institution (1) has a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission, and (3) maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees its offers, and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.  Included in the report is FAU’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).

FAU’s SACSCOC accreditation is reaffirmed every ten years, with interim reports due every five years.  The university’s reaffirmation process includes reports demonstrating compliance with SACSCOC principles and standards and a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).  In addition to the reports, the reaffirmation process includes an extensive evaluation of compliance by an off-site peer review, an on-site peer review, and the final review by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. 

Significant Dates
  •  01/01/1967 Initial Accreditation Date
  • Year of Most Recent Reaffirmation of Accreditation: 2024
  • Year of Next Reaffirmation Decision:  2034  
  • Distance Learning Approved:  12/06/2002
SACSCOC Liaison
Debra Szabo
Assistant Provost, Accreditation and Assessment
AD10, 317A
Phone:  561.297.4344
 

The SACSCOC liaison serves as a representative between the President and the SACS Commission on Colleges. She serves as the contact person for the commission staff, helps units prepare SACSCOC notifications of substantive change, coordinates SACSCOC visiting committees, disseminates information about accreditation, and answers questions from the public and the university community. All correspondence with SACSCOC on behalf of FAU must be submitted by the president or the SACSCOC liaison.

Individual contact with the SACSCOC about FAU’s accreditation status should occur only if there is evidence that appears to support significant noncompliance with a requirement or standard and must follow the Complaint Procedures Against SACSCOC or Its Accredited Institutions policy. 

Specialized and Professional Accreditation

In addition to institutional accreditation by SACSCOC, many of our colleges and distinct programs within our colleges are also accredited by discipline-specific organizations. For information about program-specific accreditation, please review FAU’s Consumer Information.

Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

FAU'S HLC APPLICATION STATUS

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is seeking accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) through HLC's Accelerated Process for Initial Accreditation. This is a three-step, structured sequence of reviews aligned with HLC's Criteria for Accreditation, Eligibility Requirements, Assumed Practices and Federal Compliance Requirements. FAU completed the first step in this process, submission of the initial application, on December 18, 2025. In January 2026, HLC confirmed that FAU may proceed to the second step, a Preliminary Peer Review, and FAU expects the process to continue through 2027. FAU is not currently accredited by HLC and remains accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) throughout this process. During this time, FAU remains committed to transparency, continuous improvement and meeting the standards and expectations of both SACSCOC and HLC.

Significant Dates
  • Application for Initial Accreditation Submitted: 12/18/2025
  • Advanced to Preliminary Peer Review: 01/09/2026

For more information about HLC and the Accelerated Process for Initial Accreditation, visit www.hlcommission.org or contact:

Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411
800.621.7440 / 312.263.0456

Questions about FAU's accreditation may be directed to Debra Szabo, Assistant Provost for Accreditation and Assessment, at 561.297.4344 or dszabo@fau.edu.