Accreditation and Rankings

Accreditation

Winthrop University holds a variety of accreditations that attest to the quality of our institution and confirm that our individual academic programs meet the top national standards of quality. These accreditations include:

Regional

Winthrop University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's, and specialist degrees. Regional accreditation is the highest available form of accreditation for institutions of higher learning.

Council for Higher Education Accreditation

Winthrop University is a member institution of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). A national advocate and institutional voice for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation, CHEA is an association of 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities and recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB)

Several of our business programs, including our online MBA, are among the 5% of business programs worldwide to achieve AACSB accreditation.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Our Master of Social Work program is one of only 254 CSWE-accredited (as of June 2017) M.S.W. programs. Accredited programs are ones that have been evaluated by the CSWE and meet the organizations’ standards for providing competent preparation for social work professionals.

Rankings

Winthrop University has received many accolades for the quality of its academic programs. Here are a few of our notable recent rankings:

U.S. News 2022 Best Colleges

Winthrop University continues its streak near the top of the South's public schools that awards bachelor’s and master's degrees, placing sixth in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report edition of "Best Colleges." Winthrop also appeared multiple times in the "Best Regional Universities in the South," placing in the top 20 and moving to sixth place among the best colleges for veterans.

Washington Monthly

For the third year in a row, Washington Monthly recognized Winthrop University for the Student Voting Category of its 2022 college rankings. Civic engagement has been among Winthrop's core values since its inception, with voter education and voter turnout particular focuses in 2022. This recognition from Washington Monthly builds upon Winthrop's Voter Friendly Campus designation in 2017 and 2019 by the Campus Vote Project and NASP-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, both national nonpartisan organizations that work with educational institutions to encourage student voting.

Princeton Review "Best in the Southeast"

The Princeton Review rated Winthrop University among the “Best in the Southeast" in its online feature "2021 Best Colleges: Region by Region." Winthrop was acknowledged for its diverse student body, small class sizes, rich cultural community, excellent caliber of faculty, and the state-of-the-art Lois Rhame West Health, Physical Education, and Wellness Center. Winthrop has been included in the regional guidebook since its initial publication in 2003.

Money Magazine

For the third straight year, Winthrop University has been named in Money magazine’s “Best Colleges” in terms of value. The magazine ranked more than 700 colleges and universities on 27 factors in three categories: educational quality, affordability, and alumni success. Winthrop has also announced that tuition for the 2020–21 school year will remain at 2019–20 rates, exhibiting a continued commitment to value.

Niche's Top Public Universities in South Carolina

Niche ranked Winthrop University #5 in the Top Public Universities in South Carolina as part of its 2021 Best Colleges ratings. Data scientists at Niche base their rankings on rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. Winthrop's 2021 ranking compares to over 500 public colleges and state universities.

Beating the Odds

Winthrop was among 32 post-secondary institutions—and the only South Carolina institution—recognized nationally for "beating the odds" in helping students, particularly minority students, most prone to dropping out of college stay on track to graduate. In a Fall 2011 report developed with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Winthrop was praised for its efforts to improve college completion rates and prepare students for successful careers.

President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) named Winthrop University as a leader among higher education institutions for their support of volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. The CNCS included Winthrop in its 2015 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the 10th consecutive time Winthrop has made the list.

Purple Heart University Designation

The Winthrop University Board of Trustees unanimously voted to honor its Purple Heart recipients and veterans by accepting the Purple Heart University designation. The Military Order of the Purple Heart recognizes Winthrop's support of military members, including veterans and their families. Winthrop University joins six other South Carolina universities with this designation.

Winthrop is also proud to provide the following military resources:

  • An active ROTC cadre
  • A Veteran Benefits Coordinator who is available to help all Winthrop University students find, apply for, and enroll in their military benefits
  • The Student Veterans of Winthrop University, a representative student organization dedicated to helping veterans transition from combat to the classroom
  • Personalized advising tailored to members of the military
  • Education benefits such as the Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance Program
  • Winthrop University is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans pay for their degrees

Continue your learning and advance your career with an online graduate degree from highly-ranked Winthrop University. Contact a program manager toll-free at 833/257-1704 or request more information today!