HPU’s Webb School of Engineering Earns Accreditation for Three Bachelor’s Programs
HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 9, 2025 – High Point University recently received notification from ABET, the premier accreditation agency for engineering, computing and technology programs, that the Webb School of Engineering has earned accreditation for its Bachelor of Science degree programs in computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering.
The accreditation provides many benefits for the School of Engineering and its graduates. It verifies that the three popular bachelor’s programs meet rigorous academic and professional standards and ensures that the school’s curriculum, faculty, labs and student outcomes are aligned with what the engineering profession expects.
Many employers, especially those in the engineering, defense and technology sectors, prefer or require their employees to be graduates from an accredited engineering program. In addition, students often must earn a degree from an accredited program to get admitted into graduate school for engineering or to sit for certain professional licensure exams.
Furthermore, the accreditation signals to prospective students, parents and employers that the Webb School of Engineering offers competitive programs that can recruit high-quality students and faculty members.
Dr. Michael Oudshoorn, the founding dean of the engineering school, attended the meeting when ABET’s commission voted in favor of accreditation for HPU’s computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering programs.
“Accreditation requires that certain curriculum is covered to ensure that the programs are technically current and the program has clear objectives,” Oudshoorn said. “Furthermore, the program must have a continuous improvement lifecycle that measures the programs’ performance against desired student outcomes, makes appropriate modifications to improve the program and measures the impact of those changes. Programs must also engage constituents to ensure that the program’s educational objectives are appropriate.”
The Webb School of Engineering was established in 2018, and its electrical engineering and computer engineering programs started in the fall of 2019. HPU has been offering computer science to students since 1974.
The school’s first two computer engineering graduates in 2023 passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which is required as the first step in a professional engineer getting licensed. Another computer engineering graduate and the first two electrical engineering graduates also passed the test to give HPU a 100% pass rate on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
The most recent data from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, which oversees the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, determined the pass rate for electrical and computer engineers taking the test for the first time is 69%.
The Webb School of Engineering has 93 students in its computer science program this fall and 25 students in each of its computer engineering and electrical engineering majors.