Accreditation

Earn a High-Quality Degree from an Accredited University

You’re investing a lot in your college education, so make sure it’s of the highest quality. How? Accreditation. Whether you’ve thought about accreditation or not, it matters. Accreditation helps ensure that universities and degree programs (including online programs) are held to rigorous academic standards set by state and regional governing bodies.

Copies of the University’s accreditation, licensure or other approval documents may be obtained by submitting a written request via email (accreditationauthorization@franklin.edu) to the Office of Accreditation & Authorization. Any questions regarding accreditation, licensure, or approvals should also be directed to the the Office of Accreditation & Authorization. The agencies that accredit, license or approve the University may also be contacted for information regarding the University’s accreditation and approvals.

Institutional Accreditation

We meet established criteria for quality teaching, student-centered learning and innovative improvement from the HLC.

 

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Urbana University was accredited as a separate institution by the Higher Learning Commission from 04/09/1975 through 07/31/2017. The University voluntarily resigned affiliation with the Higher Learning Commission, effective 08/01/2017, and became a Branch Campus of Franklin University. The Urbana University Branch Campus ceased enrollments at the end of the 2020 Spring Semester; its records are maintained by Franklin University.

Specialized Accreditation

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, post-graduate APRN certificates, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Franklin University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

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Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

The School of Education at Franklin University holds accreditation for its initial-level educator preparation programs through June 2027 from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), 1140 19th St NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 223-0077. The following bachelor's degree and post-baccalaureate initial-level licensure programs were included in the CAEP accreditation review: Adolescence to Young Adult Education (7-12), Intervention Specialist: Mild-Moderate (K-12), Middle Childhood Education, and Primary Education (PK-5).

For more information about the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, please click here.

International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)

The Ross College of Business at Franklin University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11960 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please view our IACBE member status page. 

Click here to see our IACBE Public Disclosure of Student Achievement. 

For more information about the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, please click here or visit www.iacbe.org.

National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

Franklin University has been designated as a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense since 2019, by the National Security Agency and its federal partners. Our B.S. in Cybersecurity received the program of study designation in 2019 and the M.S. in Cybersecurity program was designated in 2024. These designations were awarded as a result of a thorough investigation into the University's cybersecurity curriculum, faculty credentials, and competence in research and student involvement in cybersecurity activities.

For more information about the National Security Agency's Centers of Academic Excellence, please click here and for more information about the CAE Community, please click here.

In This Section

CCNE Accreditation

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IACBE Accreditation

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