The history of the growth of Seattle Pacific University is linked to the educational community of which it is a part. In successive steps from 1921 to 1937, the University was accredited by the Washington State Board of Education. Since 1936, the University has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Seattle Pacific is included on the approved list of the American Council on Education and Board of Regents of the State of New York. The University is also a charter member of the Christian College Consortium and a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and its credits are recognized by members of the various regional associations and by leading graduate schools throughout the country.
The University is approved by the U.S. government for education of veterans and their dependents under the applicable public laws.
Arts and Sciences
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is approved by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs.
Business and Economics
The business programs (both graduate and undergraduate) in the School of Business and Economics are accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.
Education
The School of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) at both basic (undergraduate) and advanced (graduate) levels. The University is a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities and of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. It is fully accredited by the Washington state Professional Educator Standards Board. The School of Education is also a member of the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education, and now has a chapter, Sigma Phi Upsilon, of Chi Sigma Iota, an international honor society that values academic and professional excellence in counseling.
Electrical Engineering
The Electrical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Health Sciences
The Undergraduate Nursing curriculum is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, and both the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission recognizes Seattle Pacific's nurse practitioner program for licensure. All graduate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Music
Seattle Pacific's Music program is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). It also maintains membership with the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) and the Washington University Music Administrators Association (WUMA). The Music Therapy program is accredited by the American Music Therapy Association.
Psychology, Family, and Community
Seattle Pacific's MS in Marriage and Family Therapy is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The PhD in Clinical Psychology is nationally accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Theology
Seattle Pacific Seminary (SPS) has regional accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). SPS has associate membership with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). In addition, various denominations have approved SPS for their ordination candidates, including the Free Methodist Church (SPS is an affiliated institution of the John Wesley Seminary Foundation grant program of the Free Methodist Church), the United Methodist Church, the Seattle Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Evangelical Covenant Church. SPS has faculty ordained in those denominations who serve as liaison officers to them.