The Seattle School is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada. The following degree programs are approved by the Commission on Accrediting: Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, and Master of Arts in Theology & Culture

Association of Theological Schools
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
Telephone: (412) 788-6505
ats.edu

The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated 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 Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 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 an institution’s accredited status by the Northwest  Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
Telephone: (425) 558-4224
nwccu.org

Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities refers to the institution as a whole. Therefore, statements like “fully accredited” or “this program is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities” or “this degree is accredited by the Northwest Commission on  Colleges and Universities” are incorrect and should not be used.

The Seattle School participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). This multi-state consortium oversees distance education, including preceptorships and practicums in which students may engage outside of Washington. The Seattle School seeks approval, authorization, or exemption to operate in other states as needed. Additional information regarding SARA is available at the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements website, as well as the SARA website of the Washington Student Achievement Council.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has authority to investigate student complaints against specific schools. WSAC may not be able to investigate every student complaint. Visit this pagefor information regarding the WSAC complaint process.

The Seattle School’s Student Complaint Policy

The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program at The Seattle School is designed to meet all of the requirements for professional licensure in the state of Washington, by its recognition through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and our ATS accreditation. Each state has varying licensure requirements but our program is able to meet many of them. We strongly encourage students to research requirements during their admissions process to ensure their coursework and internship experience align with the requirements of the state in which they plan to seek licensure.

A comprehensive list of educational requirements for licensure by state can be found here.

The Department of Education has certified that The Seattle School is eligible for Title IV student financial aid assistance under the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965.

The Seattle School measures its educational effectiveness through multiple methodologies including assessment of individual courses and learning outcomes, program reviews, student questionnaires, and alumni surveys. Highlights of this assessment include:

• AY 2024-2025 overall retention rate: 91.3%
• 2024 Graduates On-Time Completion Rate: 63.5%
• Average graduation rate over the past five years is 77%
• 75% of students graduating in June 2023 found vocational employment within one year

Outcomes according to the Association of Theological Schools’ 2024-2025 Graduating Student Questionnaire:

• Measures of student satisfaction with educational experience and the effectiveness in facilitating personal growth and skill development, on a scale from 1–5:
  • 4.5 — overall satisfaction with the academic experience at The Seattle School
  • 4.4 – clarity of greater vocational goals
  • 4.5 — concern about social justice
  • 4.3 — the ability to interact effectively with those from cultural and racial/ethnic contexts other than their own, and
  • 4.3 – an awareness and appreciation of the globalized context in which ministry is practiced
  • 4.6 – greater self-understanding; better idea of my strengths and weaknesses
  • 4.6 – greater sense of people’s needs
• 98% of the 53 respondents indicated that their Field Experience/Internship experiences were important or very important.