The University of Rhode Island is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.).
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals also may contact:
New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514
(781) 425 7785
E-Mail: info@neche.org
Accreditation Documents
The institution completed its most recent decennial comprehensive review in 2017, and in August of 2022, submitted its Interim (5th year) report.
2022 Interim (5th Year Report)
Interim Reports ask institutions to reflect on progress since the last comprehensive review and to project areas of focus for the next five years leading up to the next comprehensive review.
2017 Comprehensive Evaluation
The Commission requires institutions to undergo a comprehensive evaluation at least every ten years. The comprehensive evaluation process has three components, an institutional self-study, in which the institution evaluates how and how well it meets the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation, an on-site evaluation by a group of peers, and a review and decision by the Commission.