Accreditations
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Widener University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission). Widener’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 17, 2017, was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
1007 North Orange Street
4th Floor, MB #166
Wilmington, DE 19801
267-284-5011
msche.org
Specialized Accreditations by School
College of Arts & Sciences
School of Business Administration
School of Engineering
College of Health & Human Services
- Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE)
- Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-P…
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE)
- Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (C…
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
School of Nursing
ABET
Widener's undergraduate biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and robotics engineering programs are accredited by ABET.
For program goals and objectives, please view the specific undergraduate engineering program page.
415 North Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 347-7700
abet.org
Undergraduate Enrollment and Degrees Conferred, 2021-2022
| Program | Enrollment | Degrees Conferred |
| Biomedical engineering | 55 | 11 |
| Chemical engineering | 38 | 12 |
| Civil engineering | 76 | 20 |
| Electrical engineering | 45 | 9 |
| Mechanical engineering | 133 | 30 |
| Robotics engineering | 89 | 22 |
| Engineering (undeclared)* | 12 | |
| Total | 448 | 104 |
* Students who did not declare a major, typically freshmen.
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE)
Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
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Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Widener University Institute for Physician Assistant Education Program sponsored by Widener University.
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.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website* at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-widener-university/
*Note: Widener University acknowledges that as of this posting (March 29, 2024), ARC-PA has not yet updated their website with this information. They expect to have the information updated within the next few weeks.
American Bar Association (ABA)
Both of our law schools, Delaware Law School and Widener Law Commonwealth, are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
1050 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 662-1000
americanbar.org
American Chemical Society (ACS)
The Chemistry Department in the College of Arts & Sciences is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS), who regularly review the program to ensure its curriculum and resources enable students to receive a high-quality education.
1155 Sixteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
1800-333-9511
www.acs.org
American Psychological Association (APA)
The Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University is a doctor of psychology (PsyD) program that is accredited by the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.
- PsyD Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data
- Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5979
apa.org
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Widener's School of Business Administration holds accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting body for business education. Only five percent of business schools worldwide hold this accreditation.
For program goals and objectives, please view the School of Business' specific program page.
777 S. Harbour Island Blvd.
Suite 750
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 769-6500
aacsb.edu
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)
The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in Speech-Language Pathology (residential) at Widener University is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD., 20850. Phone: 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years.
- Student Outcome Data
- 2021-2026 Strategic Plan
- Mission and goals of the program are listed on the Speech-Language Pathology (MS) program page
2200 Research Boulevard, #310
Rockville, MD 20850
800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700
703-638-8080
https://caa.asha.org/
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
Widener's Institute for Physical Therapy Education is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
3030 Potomac Ave.
Suite 100
Alexandria, Virgina 22305-3085
703-706-3245
email: accreditation@apta.org
www.capteonline.org
We are accredited to offer the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree as the entry-level preparation for physical therapy practice. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (610) 499-1277 or email physicaltherapy@widener.edu.
In compliance with accreditation requirements, the Institute for Physical Therapy Education makes available the following outcome data regarding our entry-level DPT program. The outcome data for each benchmark is an average of two years of data as calculated by the standards for and reported in the most recent Annual Accreditation Report (AAR) submitted December 2024. The next AAR is due in December 2025.
- Graduation Rate Class of 2023: 93.6%
- Graduation Rate Class of 2024: 71.1%
- Two-Year Average Graduation Rate 2023-2024: 82.6%
- First Time Pass Rate Class of 2023: 88.6%
- First Time Pass Rate Class of 2024: 96.9%
- Two-Year Average First Time Pass Rate 2023-2024: 92.8%
- Ultimate National Physical Therapy Exam Pass Rate Class of 2024: 96.9%
- Employment Rate Class of 2023: 95.0%
- Employment Rate Class of 2024: 96.9%
- Two-Year Average Employment Rate 2023-2024: 96.2%
- Average prerequisite GPA of admitted students (2024): 3.55
The institute had its last on-site visit in September 2015 and was granted a full re-accreditation with the next visit scheduled in 2026.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master's degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and/or post-graduate APRN certificate program at Widener University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
655 K Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202 887-6791
www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE
Compliance Certification Board (CCB)
Delaware Law School has the distinction of being accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB). The CCB accredits universities that meet required standards for compliance education.
6500 Barrie Road, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55435
1-888-580-8373
www.compliancecertification.org
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Widener's Center for Social Work Education is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). All Council on Social Work Education programs measure and report student learning outcomes.
You can find mission, goals, and student learning outcomes on the specific social work program pages.
1701 Duke Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314-3457
703-638-8080
https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/
Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Delaware Law’s CLE programs help practicing attorneys remain current within a dynamic and ever-changing profession. Led by our nationally recognized faculty—as well as active judges, prosecutors, and partners in major firms—our programs are certified by the Delaware Commission on Legal Education and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
405 North King Street, Suite 420
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-651-3941
https://courts.delaware.gov/cle/
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Child Development Center has a four-star rating through the PA Keystone Stars and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
- Offers unique day care, preschool, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten programs
- Provides engaging early learning opportunities for children ages 2 years and 7 months to 5 years old.
- Families can enroll children for the academic school year (September through June) and summer camp programs (June through August).
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
The Child Development Center has a four-star rating through the PA Keystone Stars and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
- Offers unique day care, preschool, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten programs
- Provides engaging early learning opportunities for children ages 2 years and 7 months to 5 years old.
- Families can enroll children for the academic school year (September through June) and summer camp programs (June through August).
In compliance with federal law, Widener University will provide, upon request, copies of documents pertinent to the university’s accreditations, approvals, or licensing by external agencies or governmental bodies. To obtain such copies, please contact: Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013; tel. 610-499-4156.