American University of Florence receives US accreditation from NECHE

The American University of Florence has obtained institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a US-based body that evaluates universities against rigorous academic and governance standards.

According to the university, the accreditation confirms that the institution meets the same quality requirements applied to universities in the United States, including academic programmes, governance, financial sustainability and student services. The American University of Florence is the first private institution in Italy to receive this form of US accreditation.

A milestone for the university

The achievement was formally celebrated on Friday, 26 January, during an event held at Palazzo Borghese in Florence. The evening brought together representatives of the university, local institutions and the US diplomatic community.

Among those attending were Florence mayor Sara Funaro and the US Consul General in Florence Daniela Ballard. The event highlighted the significance of the accreditation not only for the university, but also for Florence’s role as an international academic and cultural centre.

University representatives described the accreditation as the result of a long evaluation process and as a step that reinforces the institution’s international profile while deepening its connection with the local context.

An international academic presence in the city

The American University of Florence offers degree programmes to Italian and international students, with a focus on experiential learning and integration with the city and its cultural heritage. University officials said the NECHE accreditation strengthens the institution’s mission of linking US-style higher education with Florence’s social and cultural environment.

City representatives also underlined the broader relevance of the recognition for Florence, a city that hosts thousands of international students each year and where foreign universities are an established part of the urban and academic landscape.

The accreditation places the American University of Florence within the network of recognised US higher education institutions and is expected to have implications for student recruitment, academic partnerships and institutional stability in the coming years.

(Photos by Enrique Garcia)

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