Western Carolina University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone number 404-679-4501; www.sacscoc.org) to award bachelor's, master's, education specialist, and doctor's degrees.

In addition to this institutional accreditation, other program specific accreditations, certifications, endorsements, and memberships are as follows:

• American Council for Construction Education - Construction Management/Candidate Status
• American Dietetic Association
• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (Candidacy)
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in cooperation with the Council on Accreditation of the American Health Information Management Association, and the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Professions
• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Council on Social Work Education
• Foundation on Interior Design Education Research (FIDER)
• National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Science and Protection
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• National Kitchen and Bath Association Endorsement
• North Carolina Board of Nursing
• North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission
• Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc