Sacred Heart University has been granted institutional accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), one of six regional associations in the United States that accredit schools and colleges since 1969.  Institutional accreditation is the means used by regional accrediting commissions to assure that the educational community, the general public and other agencies and organizations that an institution has clearly defined and appropriate educational objectives and that it has established conditions under which its objectives can be met.  Accreditation also provides that an institution is so organized, staffed, and supported that it can continue to meet its objectives in the future.

In addition, several University programs either have received specialized accreditation or approval by the State of Connecticut, or have been granted specialized accreditation by national professional organizations.  The John F. Welch College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB-International); the Master of Arts in Teaching program is accredited by the Connecticut State Department of Higher Education; the Education program for Teacher Certification at the elementary and secondary levels is approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education; the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); the Doctor of Physical Therapy program is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association; the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education; the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education; and the Bachelor of Arts or Science in Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.