Accreditation - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Skip to Main Content


#1 Best Dorms in Minnesota by Niche 2025


Saint Mary's Announces $125M Comprehensive Campaign

page-builder.php

Saint Mary's University Accreditation

In the United States, higher education institutions undergo accreditation processes through two types of accreditation agencies: institutional and specialized. The purpose of institutional accreditation is to ensure the overall quality of the entire institution. On the other hand, specialized (or program) accreditation agencies assess specific units, schools, or programs within the organization.

Since 1934, the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has consistently maintained its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC is duly recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an institutional accreditor. This accreditation from the HLC serves as a guarantee to prospective students and other stakeholders that the institution’s course credits and degrees adhere to the quality standards of higher education. Moreover, institutional accreditation plays a vital role in ensuring quality by confirming that the institution actively pursues continuous improvement.

Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

 

Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
800-621-7440
www.hlcommission.org

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The HLC evaluates each institution based on various criteria including academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. This comprehensive assessment helps to ensure that the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota provides a high standard of education and operates efficiently in all aspects of its operations.

In addition, Saint Mary’s has program accreditation with a variety of programmatic accreditors. Programmatic accreditation ensures an academic program meets rigorous educational quality standards. This accreditation is voluntary and applies to a single degree program or school in an accredited institution. Programmatic accreditors conduct in-depth assessments of specialized or professional programs.

Specialty Accreditation

  • The undergraduate chemistry major program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to:

    American Chemical Society
    1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
    Phone: 1-800-333-9511 (US and Canada)
    614-447-3776 (outside North America)
    service@acs.org
    https://www.acs.org/

  • American Psychological Association

    The Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

    Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
    American Psychological Association
    750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
    Phone: (202) 336-5979
    TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123
    apaaccred@apa.org
    https://accreditation.apa.org/

     

  • ASBMB logo

    Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

    1120 Rockville Pike, Suite 302
    Rockville, MD 20852-3110
    240-283-6600
    www.asbmb.org

  • COA logo

    Saint Mary’s graduate program in Nurse Anesthesiology is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

    10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
    Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
    224-275-9130
    https://www.coacrna.org/

    The program’s next review by the COA is scheduled for May/October 2029.

  • CSWE logo

    Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation. Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’ Commission on Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Commission on Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

    https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation

    The programs next review by CSWE is scheduled for February/March 2030.

  • BELTSS logo

    The Master of Arts in Healthcare Administration program is accredited by the Minnesota Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Support (MN BELTSS)

    335 Randolph Ave., Ste. 210-B
    St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
    651-201-2731
    belts.hlb@state.n.us
    https://mn.gov/boards/nursing-home

    Effective August 31, 2024 the MA in Healthcare Administration program will no longer be accredited by the MN Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) accreditation as meeting state educational requirements for Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) licensure in Minnesota.

Approvals, Authorizations, Certified, Recognized, Registered

  • Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s B.S. in Nursing and its graduate program in Nurse Anesthesiology are approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing

    210 Northland Drive, Suite 120
    Mendota Heights, MN 55120
    612-317-3000
    Toll-free 888-234-2690
    TTY Number 800-627-3529
    Fax 651-688-1841

  • MN PELSB logo
    Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s undergraduate and graduate teacher licensure preparation programs are approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, Minnesota Department of Education

    1500 Highway 36 West, Ste. 300
    Roseville, MN 55113;
    651-539-4200;
    pelsb@state.mn.us;
    www.mn.gov/pelsb.

  • Saint Mary’s is approved as an Out-of-State Nursing School by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing; Board of Nursing, WI Department of Safety and Professional Services;

    P.O Box 8366;
    Madison, WI 53708-8366;
    608-266-2112;
    https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/BoardsCouncils/Nursing

  • logo
    Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to Minnesota Statutes sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions.

  • logo
    Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has been approved and is legally authorized to do business in the state of Wisconsin as a private postsecondary school, subject to the provisions of 440.52 Wisconsin Statutes, and all administrative rules adopted pursuant to statutes. Approval included only those programs and those locations specifically approved by the Board.

    Wisconsin Educational Approval Program (EAP)
    4225 Madison Yards Way
    Madison, WI 53705
    608-266-1996
    https://dspseap.wi.gov/

  • logo
    Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.

    National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)

    3005 Center Green Drive, Suite 130
    Boulder, CO 80301
    720-680-1600
    info@nc-sara.org
    nc-sara.org