Accreditation
The University of the Incarnate Word is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, doctorate and professional degrees. The University of the Incarnate Word may also offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of the University of the Incarnate Word may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
The School of Professional Studies is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Founded in 1988, the ACBSP is a global business education accrediting body and the first organization to offer accreditation to all levels of collegiate business educational degree programs from associate to doctoral.
The ACBSP ignites a standard of excellence with an accreditation process based on the Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence. By evaluating aspects of leadership, strategic planning, relationships with stakeholders, quality of academic programs, faculty credentials and educational support, the ACBSP assesses whether or not business programs offer a rigorous educational experience and commitment to continuous quality improvement.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Accreditation 
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program of the UIW School of Professional Studies is fully accredited by the ACBSP.
Master of Business Administration (Professional) Accreditation
The Master of Business Administration (Professional) program of the UIW School of Professional Studies is fully accredited by the ACBSP.
Doctor of Business Administration Accreditation
The Doctor of Business Administration program of the UIW School of Professional Studies is fully accredited by the ACBSP.
School of Professional Studies Performance Measures
The School of Professional Studies maintains a dynamic and evolving enrollment profile across undergraduate and graduate programs, consistently serving diverse student populations with flexible, high-quality educational options.
Undergraduate Programs: SPS undergraduate programs continue to demonstrate strong appeal to working professionals and non-traditional students. The school successfully serves substantial transfer student populations and maintains positive retention rates, reinforcing its reputation as a destination for students seeking flexible degree completion options. Recent strategic program refinements reflect our commitment to quality and responsiveness to market demands.
Graduate and Doctoral Programs: Graduate enrollment remains a cornerstone of SPS operations, with programs successfully attracting both new graduate students and continuing doctoral candidates across multiple disciplines. The school maintains strong representation in both full-time and part-time study modes, accommodating diverse student needs and professional schedules.
Academic Impact: SPS generated over 41,000 total credit hours across the three-year period, with undergraduate programs contributing 25,269 hours and graduate programs 15,900 hours. This substantial academic output demonstrates the school's significant contribution to the institution's overall educational mission.
Mission Alignment: The enrollment patterns reflect SPS's ongoing commitment to serving diverse student populations, including working professionals, transfer students, and those seeking flexible learning arrangements, while maintaining academic rigor and quality across all program levels. Our strategic approach ensures we continue to meet evolving student and market needs effectively.
The School of Professional Studies demonstrates strong degree completion rates and serves a diverse graduate population, having conferred 527 degrees to 526 students in the 2024-2025 academic year. This achievement reflects the school's commitment to student success and completion across all program levels.
Program Distribution: SPS awarded degrees across multiple levels, with 236 bachelor's degrees (84% online delivery), 259 master's degrees (87% online), and 13 associate degrees (92% online). The school's flagship programs show robust completion rates, particularly in Business Administration, Organizational Development and Leadership, and Management, demonstrating market alignment and program quality.
Student Demographics and Access: SPS graduates reflect the institution's commitment to educational access and diversity. 62.7% of graduates are female, and 32.4% are Hispanic students, with significant representation across all ethnic groups. Notably, 23.8% are first-generation college students, highlighting the school's role in expanding educational opportunity. The average graduate age of 33 demonstrates SPS's effectiveness in serving working professionals and non-traditional students.
Delivery Excellence: Online programs dominate degree completions (435 of 527 degrees), confirming SPS's leadership in flexible, accessible education delivery. The Northwest Center/Datapoint campus contributes 73 additional graduates, providing regional access and classroom-based options for students requiring face-to-face instruction.
Academic Excellence: Academic honors recognition remains strong, with graduates earning distinction across degree levels, reflecting both rigorous academic standards and comprehensive student support services that enable success in challenging professional programs.
The School of Professional Studies demonstrates effective degree completion timelines that reflect both program rigor and student success support. Current data shows consistent time-to-degree metrics that align with national benchmarks for working adult populations.
Overall Performance Trends: SPS maintains stable completion patterns with an average time-to-degree of 4.0 years across all programs in recent academic years. This represents appropriate progression for the school's primarily part-time, working professional student population.
Degree-Level Analysis: Time-to-completion varies appropriately by credential level, with Associate degrees averaging 3.9 years, Bachelor's degrees averaging 5.7 years, and Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degrees averaging 4.7 years. These completion times reflect the school's commitment to thorough preparation and the reality of serving students who often balance work, family and educational responsibilities.
Program-Specific Excellence: Key SPS programs show strong completion patterns, with Administration programs maintaining efficient pathways and Business programs demonstrating consistent degree progression. The data confirms that flexible scheduling and program design effectively support degree completion for working professionals.
Quality Assurance: The consistency in completion times across multiple academic years demonstrates institutional stability and effective academic planning. Students benefit from predictable program pathways that accommodate professional schedules while maintaining academic standards essential for career advancement.
The School of Professional Studies demonstrates significant student learning achievement through comprehensive assessment of its Bachelor's Business Administration program. External evaluation by Peregrine Global Services confirms strong academic outcomes and continuous improvement in student knowledge acquisition.
Outstanding Learning Growth: Students showed exceptional improvement from program entry to completion, with total scores increases of 24.41% improvement in academic knowledge. This substantial learning gain demonstrates the effectiveness of SPS curriculum design and instructional delivery.
Competitive External Performance: SPS students outperform peer institutions significantly, scoring 10.66 percentage points higher than the faith-based institution aggregate on outbound assessments. The program ranks in the 85th percentile nationally, confirming academic rigor and quality outcomes that exceed industry standards.
Program Strengths: Students excel particularly in Information Management Systems (79.53%), Economics: Microeconomics (77.91%), and Marketing (75.23%), reflecting curriculum alignment with current industry demands. These results validate program relevance and effectiveness in preparing business professionals.
The School of Professional Studies demonstrates solid student learning achievement through comprehensive assessment of its Masters Business Administration program. External evaluation by Peregrine Global Services confirms effective curriculum delivery and meaningful academic progress throughout the graduate experience.
Positive Learning Growth: MBA students showed steady improvement from program entry to completion, with total scores representing a 10% improvement in advanced business knowledge. This consistent learning gain demonstrates the effectiveness of graduate-level curriculum design and rigorous instructional delivery.
Competitive External Performance: SPS MBA students perform competitively with peer institutions, scoring 2.16 percentage points higher than the faith-based institution aggregate on outbound assessments. The program ranks in the 55th percentile nationally, reflecting solid academic outcomes that meet industry standards for graduate business education.
Program Strengths: Students excel particularly in Marketing (75.98%), Economics: Macroeconomics (74.59%), and Management: Operations/Production Management (72.95%), reflecting curriculum alignment with contemporary business leadership demands. These results validate program relevance and effectiveness in preparing advanced business professionals.
Numerous UIW programs have earned accreditation from their respective associations. View all University accreditations for more details.