Updated October 2026 · Prepared by Edhitch’s accreditation advisory team
What is ABET accreditation?
ABET is a US-based, ISO 9001 certified quality assurance organisation that accredits programmes — not institutions — in engineering, computing, engineering technology and applied and natural science, through four commissions. Engineering programmes are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) against eight general criteria and seven student outcomes. ABET accredits 4,863 programmes at 950 institutions in 42 countries.
ABET or NBA? For Indian colleges it is both, not either. India has been a permanent signatory of the Washington Accord through NBA since June 2014, and NBA-accredited programmes at Tier I institutions carry that recognition. ABET’s Washington Accord recognition covers its US programmes only — so Indian institutions pursue ABET for its global brand and keep NBA for Washington Accord standing.
The eight EAC general criteria (2026–27)
| Criterion | What the programme must show |
|---|---|
| 1. Students | Admission, progress monitoring, advising and graduation requirements |
| 2. Program Educational Objectives | Published objectives consistent with the mission, reviewed with constituencies |
| 3. Student Outcomes | The seven ABET outcomes, plus any the programme adds |
| 4. Continuous Improvement | Regular assessment and evaluation of outcomes, with results used for improvement |
| 5. Curriculum | Mathematics, sciences, engineering topics, broad education and a culminating design experience |
| 6. Faculty | Sufficient, qualified faculty with authority over the programme |
| 7. Facilities | Classrooms, laboratories and computing resources that support the outcomes |
| 8. Institutional Support | Leadership, resources, staff and a respectful environment |
Programmes must also meet any discipline-specific Program Criteria.
The seven ABET student outcomes
| # | Graduates have an ability to |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics |
| 2 | Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs, considering public health, safety and welfare, and global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors |
| 3 | Communicate effectively with a range of audiences |
| 4 | Recognise ethical and professional responsibilities and make informed judgments, considering global, economic, environmental and societal impact |
| 5 | Function effectively on a team that provides leadership, creates a collaborative environment, establishes goals, plans tasks and meets objectives |
| 6 | Develop and conduct experimentation, analyse and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions |
| 7 | Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies |
The ABET accreditation process (about 18 months)
- Readiness Review. Required for institutions with no ABET-accredited programme in the commission: request by 15 August and complete by 1 September, a year before the visit.
- Request for Evaluation. Submit by 31 January of the visit year.
- Self-Study Report. Submit by 1 July, documenting every criterion with evidence.
- On-site visit. A peer team visits between September and December, usually for three days.
- Draft statement and response. The draft statement follows two to three months later, with a 30-day due-process response.
- Decision. Commissions decide in July; the final statement arrives by 31 August. A clean result runs for up to six years.
Indian institutions with ABET-accredited programmes include KIIT, Chandigarh University, NMIMS (MPSTME) and SIMATS.
NBA and ABET side by side
| NBA (India) | ABET | |
|---|---|---|
| Accredits | Programmes | Programmes |
| Outcomes | Programme Outcomes and PSOs under GAPC v4.0 | Seven student outcomes plus programme outcomes |
| Washington Accord | Signatory since 2014; Tier I programmes recognised | Recognition covers US programmes only |
| Report | Self-Assessment Report (SAR) | Self-Study Report |
| Shared machinery | CO-PO attainment, direct and indirect assessment, continuous improvement | Outcome assessment, direct and indirect measures, continuous improvement |
Where Indian programmes struggle with ABET
- Two outcome systems kept apart. NBA POs and ABET student outcomes are assessed separately, from the same student work.
- Continuous improvement without a trail. Improvements happen, but the evidence linking them to assessment results is not kept.
- Self-Study written from scratch. Criterion tables are compiled by hand in the months before the July deadline.
- PEOs that are never reviewed. Objectives are published but the constituency review is not documented.
Master Data Map’s ABET module
Master Data Map’s ABET module runs on the same outcomes engine as its NBA and OBE modules — built on Edhitch’s OutcomeLoop technology for ABET outcomes assessment. One assessment record produces your NBA SAR and your ABET Self-Study.
| Capability | What it does |
|---|---|
| Student outcome mapping | Maps every course and assessment to the seven ABET student outcomes and any programme-specific outcomes. |
| NBA-ABET crosswalk | Links NBA Programme Outcomes to ABET student outcomes, so one assessment serves both. |
| Outcome attainment | Computes attainment from direct and indirect measures, by outcome, course and cohort. |
| Continuous improvement log | Records every improvement and the assessment result that triggered it — the evidence Criterion 4 asks for. |
| PEO review tracking | Documents constituency reviews of Program Educational Objectives. |
| Self-Study tables | Generates the criterion tables for the ABET Self-Study Report from the record. |
Frequently asked questions
What is ABET accreditation?
ABET is a US-based quality assurance organisation that accredits programmes in engineering, computing, engineering technology and applied and natural science. Engineering programmes are accredited by its Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC).
What are the ABET EAC criteria?
Eight general criteria: Students, Program Educational Objectives, Student Outcomes, Continuous Improvement, Curriculum, Faculty, Facilities and Institutional Support, plus any discipline-specific Program Criteria.
What are the seven ABET student outcomes?
The abilities to solve complex engineering problems; apply engineering design; communicate effectively; recognise ethical and professional responsibilities; function effectively on a team; conduct experimentation and interpret data; and acquire and apply new knowledge.
Should Indian colleges choose ABET or NBA?
Most pursue both. India is a permanent Washington Accord signatory through NBA, and NBA-accredited Tier I programmes carry that recognition; ABET’s Washington Accord recognition covers US programmes only. Indian institutions pursue ABET for its global recognition and keep NBA for Washington Accord standing.
How long does ABET accreditation take?
About 18 months from the Readiness Review or Request for Evaluation to the decision. A clean result is valid for up to six years.
How does Master Data Map help with ABET?
Master Data Map’s ABET module maps courses to ABET student outcomes, links them to NBA Programme Outcomes, computes attainment, logs continuous improvement and generates the Self-Study criterion tables from the same record used for NBA.
ABET Module Demo
30-minute session with our team. We’ll show your NBA and ABET outcomes running on one record.
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