ABET Accreditation

What ABET accreditation means

ABET is a nonprofit accreditor that evaluates the quality of technical and computing education programmes. The Computing Accreditation Commission (ABET-CAC) specifically reviews computer science, software engineering, and related programmes.

ABET-CAC accreditation is programme-level — it evaluates the specific CS programme’s curriculum, faculty, and outcomes. It is distinct from institutional accreditation (regional or national), which covers the university as a whole.

Why it matters (and when it doesn’t)

ABET-CAC accreditation matters primarily for:

• U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) positions — many DoD civilian engineering roles require ABET-CAC
• Aerospace and defence contractors — Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing often list ABET-CAC as a requirement
• Some federal civilian engineering positions — GSA, NASA, and similar agencies

ABET-CAC accreditation does not matter for:

• Big Tech hiring — Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft do not screen for ABET at the bachelor’s level
• Fintech and startup hiring — ABET is not a filter at this level
• Most F500 IT departments — “regionally accredited bachelor’s” is the standard filter, not ABET-CAC

Online CS programmes with ABET-CAC (2026)

Only a small number of fully online CS programmes hold ABET-CAC accreditation. As of 2026, notable examples include:

• Oregon State Ecampus BS CS
• Arizona State University Online BS CS
• Florida International University Online BS CS

Verify current ABET accreditation status at abet.org/find-programs.

The buyer implication

If your target employers are outside DoD and aerospace, ABET-CAC adds cost (programmes with ABET tend to charge more) without adding hiring advantage. If your target employers require ABET-CAC, a non-ABET programme like WGU or SNHU is not a substitute — the filter is binary.

Last verified: 2026-05-01