Regional accreditor · Updated 2026
NWCCU Accreditation for Northwest Bible Colleges and Seminaries
NWCCU accredits institutions across seven Northwest and Mountain West states. The region's Christian higher education scene is smaller than the South's but includes several well-regarded Bible colleges and seminaries clustered around Portland and the Puget Sound.
At a glance
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Abbreviation
- NWCCU
- Type
- Regional
- Recognition
- Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Scope
- Institutional accreditation in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
- Founded
- 1917.
- Members
- Roughly 160 institutions.
Christian schools in the NWCCU region
Multnomah University in Portland holds NWCCU accreditation alongside ABHE. Western Seminary, Corban University, George Fox University and its seminary, Northwest University, and Seattle Pacific University are also accredited in this region.
Portland functions as the region's hub for biblical higher education, with Multnomah and Western Seminary offering a full undergraduate-through-doctoral pathway between them.
Verifying NWCCU accreditation
Search the NWCCU member institution directory, confirm accredited status and degree levels, and cross-check the school in DAPIP. For graduate theological degrees, verify ATS status separately.
Frequently asked questions
Which states does NWCCU cover?
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Is Multnomah University accredited?
Yes. Multnomah holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
NWCCU-accredited schools in our directory
These schools in the Find Bible Schools directory list NWCCU accreditation. Always confirm current status directly with the accreditor before applying.
Other accreditors to know
Faith-based
ABHE
Association for Biblical Higher Education
Faith-based
ATS
Association of Theological Schools
Faith-based
TRACS
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Faith-based
AARTS
American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions
Regional
SACSCOC
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Regional
HLC
Higher Learning Commission
Regional
MSCHE
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Regional
NECHE
New England Commission of Higher Education
Regional
WSCUC
WASC Senior College and University Commission
← Back to the full accreditation guide
Accreditation status changes. Recognition details reflect publicly available information as of 2026 — always verify a school's current standing in the accreditor's own directory and the U.S. Department of Education's DAPIP database before enrolling.