Accreditation
Stratford University is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award certificate, diploma, associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. ACICS is listed as a nationally recognized accreditation agency by the U.S. Department of Education and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a national advocate and institutional voice for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation. CHEA is an association of 3,000 degree granting colleges and universities and recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations.
Stratford University is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to operate campuses in Virginia.
The undergraduate and graduate programs are approved for federal student financial aid by the U.S. Department of Education. The University has the authority to issue I-20s by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for F-1 visas. This institution is approved to offer GI Bill® educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency. The Virginia and the District of Columbia Rehabilitation Services approve many programs.
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has approved Stratford University to operate a campus in Baltimore, Maryland. Stratford University carefully monitors developments in Maryland state law and acts promptly to meet all requirements.
The Virginia Board of Nursing provisionally approves the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to accept students. Students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination after graduating from the program. The baccalaureate program at Stratford University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.
The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredits the Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting program at some of the Virginia campuses. ABHES is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education for the accreditation of private, postsecondary institutions in the United States. ABHES is located at 7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314N, Falls Church, VA 22043, (703) 917-9503, www.abhes.org.
The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC) accredits the Associate of Applied Science in Advanced Culinary Arts and the Associate of Applied Science in Baking and Pastry Arts programs at some of campuses. ACFEFAC is located at 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095, (904) 824-4468, www.acfchefs.org.
As a result of ACICS Council action on April 4, 2017, the Stratford University doctoral programs have been placed on permanent moratorium. ACICS will no longer accept applications for any of its accredited institutions to offer doctoral programs. Therefore, Stratford University’s existing doctoral programs will be taught out by December 31, 2019. This includes Stratford University’s certificate programs which will no longer issue any academic credit towards existing doctoral programs or any other programs. Current Stratford students with questions or concerns are invited to contact compliance@stratford.edu.