Webster University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) continuously since 1925. This accreditation applies to every Webster campus and location across the United States, internationally and online.

Webster University is on the Open Pathway 10-Year Cycle for HLC accreditation. Our last comprehensive evaluation took place in March 2018. Based on this process, HLC's Institutional Actions Council reaffirmed Webster University's accreditation for the next 10 years on July 30, 2018. The next Reaffirmation of Accreditation will take place in 2027-2028. Discover more detailed information about our HLC accreditation .

 

Specialized Accreditations and Designations

ACBSP logoBusiness and Management programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Music programs and degrees are fully accredited and approved by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
ACEN logoNursing programs and degrees are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
The Nursing Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council of Accreditation (COA) of nurse anesthesia educational programs.

ASBMB Logo

The BS in Biological Sciences is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

Legal Studies: The BA, MA and paralegal certificates at the St. Louis campus only are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
CAEP logoEducation programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
CAE logoWebster University has been designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 2019-2024.

CACREP LogoCounseling: The MA, Clinical Mental Health Emphasis is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) at the following campuses: St. Louis/Webster Groves, Missouri; Columbia, South Carolina; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Online.

 

International Accreditation and Recognitions

Austria

Campus location: Vienna

Since 2001, Webster Vienna Private University has been accredited by The Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) as an Austrian Private University.

China

Campus location: Chengdu, Shanghai

The Webster University MBA program, offered in partnership with the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), is officially recognized by the Ministry of Education in China.

Georgia

Campus location: Tbilisi

Webster University in Georgia holds the higher education institution status with the Republic of Georgia's National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement Authorization Council for Higher Education Institutions (I/D 405424526).

Greece

Campus location: Athens

Webster University, through its Athens Campus, Webster Athens, has been accredited/licensed by the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Republic to operate in Hellas, Greece under permit 127051/K1/01.08.2016 (Government Gazette 2585/B/22.08.2016).

Kazakhstan

Campus location: Nur-Sultan

The Webster University Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language is offered in partnership with Astana International University. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan recognizes this program offering in its Register of Educational Programs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Netherlands

Campus location: Leiden

Webster Leiden is recognized as an institute of higher education in the Netherlands.

Switzerland

Campus location: Geneva

Webster Geneva Campus is a nonprofit university established and recognized in Geneva since 1979 as a Swiss Foundation (Foundation Webster).

Uzbekistan

Campus location: Tashkent, Samarkand

By resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and through the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education, Webster University is registered to operate and its diplomas, transcripts and other academic awards are recognized as documents of higher education in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

 

Webster University has a signed Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Partnership Education Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

 

 

State Licensures

The campus at Little Rock Air Force Base is certified by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board certification does not constitute an endorsement of any institution, course or degree program. Such certification merely indicates that certain minimum standards have been met under the rules and regulations of institutional certification as defined in Arkansas Code §6-61-301. The student should be aware that these degree programs may not transfer. The transfer of course/degree credit is determined by the receiving institution.

"Notice of Student Rights" in California — You have the right to cancel your agreement for a program of instruction, without any penalty or obligations, through attendance at the first class session or the seventh calendar day after enrollment, whichever is later, as described in the Notice of Cancellation form that will be given to you. After the end of the cancellation period, you also have the right to receive a pro rata refund if you have completed 60% or less of the scheduled days in the current program period in your program through the last day of attendance. Read the Notice of Cancellation form for any explanation of your cancellation rights and responsibilities. If you have lost your Notice of Cancellation form, ask the school for a sample copy. After the end of the cancellation period, you also have the right to stop school at any time and you have the right to receive a refund for the part of the course not taken. Your refund rights are described in the contract. If you have lost your contract, ask the school for a description of the refund policy. If the school closes before you graduate, you may be entitled to a refund.

Any questions a student may have regarding this catalog that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, www.bppe.ca.gov, by telephone at 888-370-7589 or by fax at 916-263-1897.

A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling 888-370-7589 or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the bureau's internet Web site www.bppe.ca.gov. While students are encouraged to use Webster University internal complaint processes first for grievances, it is not required and students may contact the Bureau at any time.

California students have the right to cancel their agreement for a program of instruction, without any penalty or obligations, through attendance at the first-class session or the seventh calendar day after enrollment, whichever is later. After the end of the cancellation period, California students also have the right to receive a pro rata refund if they have completed 60 percent or less of the scheduled days in the current program period in their program through the last day of attendance.

The student tuition refund rates apply when a student drops or withdraws from a course in accordance with University enrollment policies and the refund has been approved. Students attending on-campus classes in California will receive a refund on tuition as dictated by the following State requirements:

California Refund Schedule (for 8-week and 9-week classes)
Week 1 (Drop) 100%
Week 2 (Withdrawal) 89%
Week 3 (Withdrawal) 78%
Week 4 (Withdrawal) 67%
Week 5 (Withdrawal) 56%
Week 6 (Withdrawal) 44%
Week 7 or later (Withdrawal) 0%

The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment if you are not a California resident or are not enrolled in a residency program.

It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that document the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, 916-431-6959 or 888-370-7589.

To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

  1. The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or discontinued and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.
  2. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution within the 120 day period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120 day period before the program was discontinued.
  3. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.
  4. The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.
  5. The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.
  6. You have been awarded restitution, a refund, or other monetary award by an arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from the institution.
  7. You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.

To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF.

A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of non-collection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or taxpayer identification number.

Notice Concerning Transferability of Credits and Credentials Earned at our Institution

The transferability of credits you earn at Webster University is at the complete discretion of an institution to which you may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the degree or certificate you earn in the educational program is also at the complete discretion of the institution to which you may seek to transfer. If the credits, degree or certificate that you earn at this institution are not accepted at the institution to which you seek to transfer, you may be required to repeat some of all of your coursework at that institution. For this reason, you should make certain that your attendance at this institution will meet your educational goals. This may include contacting an institution to which you may seek to transfer after attending Webster University to determine if your credits, degree or certificate will transfer.

The campus at Colorado Springs is authorized to offer master's degrees by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.

The campus at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., is licensed by the District of Columbia Educational Institution Licensure Commission.

The campus at Fort Eisenhower is authorized by Georgia's Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.

The student tuition refund rates apply when a student drops or withdraws from a course in accordance with University enrollment policies and the refund has been approved. Students attending on-campus classes in Georgia will receive a refund on tuition as dictated by the following State requirements:

Georgia Refund Schedule (for 8-week and 9-week classes)
Week 1 (Drop) 100%
Week 2 (Withdrawal) 100%
Week 3 (Withdrawal) 50%
Week 4 (Withdrawal) 50%
Week 5 (Withdrawal) 50%
Week 6 or later (Withdrawal) 0%

In accordance with the requirements set forth by Georgia's Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC), any monies paid by a Georgia resident to a Webster University representative will be refunded to the student if he/she requests the same within three (3) business days of signing an enrollment contract with the university. If no enrollment contract is signed, and if requested by the student, any monies paid will be refunded to the student if he/she requests the same within three (3) business days after making a payment. Students have the right of appeal of the final institutional decision to Georgia's Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission at:

Non-Public Postsecondary Education Commission
2082 East Exchange Place Suite 220
Tucker, GA 30084-5305
Phone: 770-414-3300
Fax: 770-414-3309

The campus at Scott Air Force Base is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

The campus at Southwestern Illinois College is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

 

Currently, there are no Webster campuses licensed by the Kentucky Council on Post-Secondary Education.

Campuses at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center and at Andrews Air Force Base are authorized by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Campuses at Webster Groves, Gateway (Downtown St. Louis), Westport and Fort Leonard Wood are authorized by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education serves as a clearinghouse for postsecondary student complaints. The MDHE complaint policy (PDF) contains information about the complaint process and includes instructions for how to file a formal complaint. The policy provides that a student who wishes to file a complaint with the department must first exhaust all formal and informal avenues provided by the institution to resolve disputes.

Campuses at Fort Liberty and Camp Lejeune are approved by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina.

Webster is required to complete an annual report and is subject to annual reviews.

University of North Carolina General Administration
910 Raleigh Road
P.O. Box 2688
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
Phone: 919-962-1000

The campus at Fort Sill is approved to operate educational programs beyond secondary education by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Campuses at Columbia and Myrtle Beach are licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

SC Commission on Higher Education
1122 Lady Street, Suite 300
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-737-2260

Licensure is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality. If students at the Columbia and Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Campuses have complaints about a classroom situation, they should first attempt to resolve the situation with the instructor. If resolution cannot be made with the instructor, or if the complaint is about a general school policy over which the instructor has no jurisdiction, then they may contact the school director for mediation. If the complaint cannot be resolved at the school level through its complaint procedure, students may file a complaint (PDF) with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

Institutions that offer programs and courses on federal military installations are exempt from CHE approval; the campus at Joint Base Fort Jackson operate through Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with base authorities.

The metropolitan campus at San Antonio is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinator Board. Military campuses at Fort Bliss, Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base are on federal property and operate through Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with their respective base authorities.

The student tuition refund rates apply when a student drops or withdraws from a course in accordance with University enrollment policies and the refund has been approved. Students attending on-campus classes in Texas will receive a refund on tuition as dictated by the following State requirements:

Texas Refund Schedule (for 8-week and 9-week classes)
Week 1 (Drop) 100%
Week 2 (Withdrawal) 80%
Week 3 (Withdrawal) 80%
Week 4 (Withdrawal) 25%
Week 5 or later (Withdrawal) 0%

The campus at Hill Air Force Base is located on federal property and operates through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the base authorities.

The campus at Fort Belvoir is approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

If a student has any complaints, questions or problems which were not resolved by the school to your satisfaction, you may contact:

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
101 N. 14th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-225-2600