Accreditation

The Academy is a state university, one of twenty-nine public colleges and universities supported by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Regionally, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the New England Commission of Higher Education indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied 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 New England Commission of Higher Education 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 the accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Burlington, MA 01803-4514
(781) 425-7785 E-Mail: info@neche.org

The Academy receives additional support from the United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD)and the Department of the Navy, which provide legal authorization and support for its maritime programs. The Code of Federal Regulations (46 CFR Part 310) identifies Massachusetts Maritime Academy as one of the six state maritime colleges approved by MARAD to prepare graduates for federal license examination as third mate, ocean vessels, unlimited tons, or third assistant engineer, steam, gas turbine, and motor, unlimited horsepower.

The Academy is federally recognized by MARAD in accordance with curriculum standards as directed by

Section 1304(f)(1)(B) of the Maritime Education and Training Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-453). The Academy is subject to review every five years by the USCG/MARAD.

The Academy’s bachelor of science degree program in International Maritime Business is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), http://www.iacbe.org.

The Energy Systems Engineering bachelor degree program at Massachusetts Maritime Academy is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), http://www.abet.org.