Accreditations
Institutional Accreditation
Saint Francis University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission), 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801; www.msche.org. Saint Francis University’s accreditation status is accreditation reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 23, 2016, was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.
- Statement of Accreditation Status
- Phase: Accredited
- Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
- Accreditation Granted: 1939
- Last Reaffirmation: 2016
- Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2024-2025
State Approval
Saint Francis University is authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to confer degrees. PDE can be reached at Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17126; (717)783-6788; https://www.education.pa.gov/Postsecondary-Adult/Pages/default.aspx.
Specialized Program Accreditation
Several academic programs at Saint Francis University are accredited by their respective specialized accrediting agencies. Procedures for obtaining or reviewing documents describing accreditation, approval, or licensing are available through each academic department.
-
Business
Saint Francis University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11374 Strang Line Road, Lenexa, Kansas, 66215; (913)631-3009; https://iacbe.org/memberpdf/SaintFrancisUniversity.pdf
The business programs in the following degrees are accredited by the IACBE.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) with concentrations in Accounting, Finance, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems and Project Management, Leadership and Ethical Management, Marketing, and Sports Management;
- Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM);
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing.
-
Chemistry
The Saint Francis University Chemistry program has been approved by the American Chemical Society to offer ACS certified degrees. ACS may be contacted at 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; (202)872-4600; www.acs.org.
-
Cybersecurity Administration and Digital Forensics
Saint Francis University has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) for its validated degree program in the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Administration and Digital Forensics through the academic year 2028.
-
Education
The teacher preparation and certification programs offered at Saint Francis University at the undergraduate and graduate level are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17126; (717)783-6788. PDE approved preparation programs are designed to prepare and certify educators to teach or serve in the schools of the Commonwealth. www.education.pde.gov
-
Environmental Engineering
The Environmental Engineering program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
-
Exercise Physiology
The Saint Francis University Exercise Physiology program has been continuously accredited since January 16, 2014 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP). CAAHEP may be contacted at 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756; (727) 210-2354; www.caahep.org.
-
General Engineering
The General Engineering program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
-
Human Resource Management
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) confirms that curriculum taught at Saint Francis University Master of Human Resource Management aligns with the recommended requirements for HR degree programs as outlined in the SHRM HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. SHRM may be contacted at 1800 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; 800-283 SHRM (7476); www.shrm.org.
-
Nursing
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master's degree programs in nursing at Saint Francis University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, BSN, master’s degree program in nursing, MSN/Family (Individual Across the Life Span) Nurse Practitioner program, and Post Master's/Family (Individual Across the Life Span) Nurse Practitioner program are Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approved.
-
Occupational Therapy
The Master of Occupational Therapy program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). ACOTE may be contacted at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449; (301)652-AOTA; www.acoteonline.org.
-
Physician Assistant Sciences
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Physician Assistant program sponsored by Saint Francis University. ARC-PA may be contacted at 12000 Findley Road, Suite 150, Johns Creek, GA 30097; (770)476-1224; www.arc-pa.org.
-
Physical Therapy
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: (703)706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (814)472-3123 or email physicaltherapydepartment@francis.edu.
-
Physical Therapy Residency Programs
- Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program: Credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in orthopaedic physical therapy. APTA may be contacted at 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703)684-2782; http://www.abptrfe.org.
- Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program: Credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in pediatric physical therapy. APTA may be contacted at 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703)684-2782; http://www.abptrfe.org.
-
Social Work
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) reaffirmed the baccalaureate social work program at Saint Francis University. CSWE may be contacted at 1701 Duke Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314-3457; (703) 683-8080; www.cswe.org.
Saint Francis University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11374 Strang Line Road, Lenexa, Kansas, 66215; (913)631-3009; https://iacbe.org/memberpdf/SaintFrancisUniversity.pdf
The business programs in the following degrees are accredited by the IACBE.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) with concentrations in Accounting, Finance, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems and Project Management, Leadership and Ethical Management, Marketing, and Sports Management;
- Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM);
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing.
The Saint Francis University Chemistry program has been approved by the American Chemical Society to offer ACS certified degrees. ACS may be contacted at 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; (202)872-4600; www.acs.org.
Saint Francis University has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) for its validated degree program in the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Administration and Digital Forensics through the academic year 2028.
The teacher preparation and certification programs offered at Saint Francis University at the undergraduate and graduate level are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17126; (717)783-6788. PDE approved preparation programs are designed to prepare and certify educators to teach or serve in the schools of the Commonwealth. www.education.pde.gov
The Environmental Engineering program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
The Saint Francis University Exercise Physiology program has been continuously accredited since January 16, 2014 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP). CAAHEP may be contacted at 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756; (727) 210-2354; www.caahep.org.
The General Engineering program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) confirms that curriculum taught at Saint Francis University Master of Human Resource Management aligns with the recommended requirements for HR degree programs as outlined in the SHRM HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. SHRM may be contacted at 1800 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; 800-283 SHRM (7476); www.shrm.org.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master's degree programs in nursing at Saint Francis University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, BSN, master’s degree program in nursing, MSN/Family (Individual Across the Life Span) Nurse Practitioner program, and Post Master's/Family (Individual Across the Life Span) Nurse Practitioner program are Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approved.
The Master of Occupational Therapy program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). ACOTE may be contacted at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449; (301)652-AOTA; www.acoteonline.org.
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Physician Assistant program sponsored by Saint Francis University. ARC-PA may be contacted at 12000 Findley Road, Suite 150, Johns Creek, GA 30097; (770)476-1224; www.arc-pa.org.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Saint Francis University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: (703)706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (814)472-3123 or email physicaltherapydepartment@francis.edu.
- Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency Program: Credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in orthopaedic physical therapy. APTA may be contacted at 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703)684-2782; http://www.abptrfe.org.
- Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program: Credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in pediatric physical therapy. APTA may be contacted at 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703)684-2782; http://www.abptrfe.org.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) reaffirmed the baccalaureate social work program at Saint Francis University. CSWE may be contacted at 1701 Duke Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314-3457; (703) 683-8080; www.cswe.org.