ABET
ABET is a Baltimore-based accreditation agency that evaluates college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology, and now extends its quality assurance to micro-credentials and digital badges for global universities, employers, and credential providers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1932
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ABET does
ABET is a Baltimore-based, privately held quality assurance and accreditation agency that evaluates college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. Founded in 1932, it is the de facto accreditation body for engineering and computing degrees in the United States and is recognized by employers and licensure bodies in over 40 countries, with one global survey drawing 1,255 employer respondents across 52 countries. Its core product is program accreditation delivered through a structured, standards-based review process that is referenced in pathways to Professional Engineering Licensure.
In 2025, ABET launched the Credential Recognition System (September 25, 2025) and, in 2026, the Recognition of Credentials Service (March 25, 2026), extending its review capabilities to micro-credentials and digital badges in fields such as AI, construction engineering, and sustainability. The new services use a virtual review process that returns recognition within months and are designed around open data standards and interoperability frameworks developed with partners including UNESCO, Credential Engine, Siemens, Purdue University, University of Colorado Boulder, and ASCE.
ABET generates revenue primarily through fees paid by institutions for accreditation reviews and, increasingly, through credential recognition review fees from a broader set of issuers. It reaches customers and constituents through the annual ABET Symposium, co-hosted webinars with University World News, and global research publications, and it is currently expanding its partnerships into India and North Africa to grow the addressable base of recognized programs and credentials.
ABET firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ABET
- Website
- https://abet.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1932
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ABET is a Baltimore-based accreditation agency that evaluates college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology, and now extends its quality assurance to micro-credentials and digital badges for global universities, employers, and credential providers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ABET industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Accreditation Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Assessment Platforms & Computer-Based Testing Authorities (EDADAFAK), Assessment Interoperability, Integrations & Standards (QTI/LTI/OneRoster) (EDAFADAK)
Keywords
Where ABET is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
ABET business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Accreditation Services: ABET provides accreditation reviews for educational programs (engineering, applied science, computing, engineering technology). Institutions pay for accreditation evaluations, which confirm program compliance with global quality standards.
- Credential Recognition Services: ABET evaluates and recognizes micro-credentials and digital badges from various providers, offering a faster virtual review process. This supports the growing micro-credential marketplace and standardization of credential quality internationally.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
ABET product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ABET is a global quality assurance and accreditation agency that accredits college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. It also evaluates and recognizes micro-credentials and digital badges from various providers through a structured review process, providing standardization and employer trust in non-degree learning.
Product overview
ABET operates as a global quality assurance and accreditation agency offering two core credential-related products: the Recognition of Credentials Service and the Credential Recognition System. These work together to validate, recognize, and standardize micro-credentials and digital badges internationally across fields including construction engineering, AI, and sustainability. ABET also hosts the ABET Symposium as an annual event platform for discussing trends in higher education quality assurance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ABET Program Accreditation
- Credential Recognition System
- Recognition of Credentials Service
Quantifiable outcome
- Credential recognition within months through virtual review process
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ABET
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ABET technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
ABET partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- University World NewscoreUniversity World News co-hosts educational webinars with ABET on topics including equitable partnerships in higher education, micro-credentials, and lifelong learning. The partnership aims to address global education challenges and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- SiemenscoreSiemens had 16 micro-credentials recognized by ABET's Credential Recognition System on September 25, 2025. This partnership supports the standardization of Siemens' skills-based credentials in fields like AI and sustainability.
- University of Colorado BouldercoreUniversity of Colorado Boulder had micro-credentials recognized by ABET's Credential Recognition System, supporting the university's efforts to provide recognized skills-based learning pathways.
- Purdue UniversitycorePurdue University had micro-credentials recognized by ABET's Credential Recognition System, contributing to the university's credential recognition and lifelong learning initiatives.
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)coreASCE had micro-credentials recognized by ABET's Credential Recognition System, supporting professional development standards in civil engineering.
- UNESCOmajorUNESCO experts participated in ABET-hosted webinar on November 20 discussing how micro-credentials can achieve global recognition, emphasizing open data standards, interoperability frameworks, and quality assurance mechanisms.
- Credential EnginecoreCredential Engine participated in ABET webinar, contributing expertise on interoperability frameworks and open data standards for credential recognition.
- NASAminorNASA astronaut Nicole Stott delivered opening keynote at ABET Symposium 2026, discussing international collaboration and the International Space Station as an example of partnership among 15 countries.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ABET competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AACSB International: Global accreditor for business and accounting programs; comparable to ABET in mission and structure as a non-degree-program-focused accreditor serving higher-education institutions worldwide.
- EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System): European-based business school accreditation body; comparable to ABET as a peer international quality assurance agency for higher-education programs.
- AMBA (Association of MBAs): Accreditor of MBA, DBA, and business master's programs globally; operates a similar accreditation and quality assurance model as ABET in adjacent domains.
Broad incumbents
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC): One of six U.S. regional institutional accreditors; broader scope than ABET (covers entire institutions rather than specific programs), making it a broad incumbent in higher-education accreditation.
- SACSCOC: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; U.S. regional accreditor covering entire institutions, comparable to ABET as a higher-education quality assurance body.
- CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation): U.S. national advocate and coordinator for higher-education accreditation; comparable to ABET as a coordinator in the U.S. accreditation ecosystem.
Regional players
- QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education): UK-based independent quality assurance body for higher education; serves as a comparable national/regional quality assurance counterpart to ABET in the U.K.
- ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education): European umbrella body for higher-education quality assurance agencies; relevant as a regional peer operating in the same policy and recognition space as ABET.
Emerging players
- Credly: Digital credentialing platform acquired by Pearson; overlaps with ABET's Credential Recognition System in serving the micro-credential and digital badge market, though Credly operates as a technology platform rather than an accreditation body.
Others
- Credential Engine: Nonprofit focused on credential transparency and interoperability infrastructure; not a direct competitor but a partner organization working in the same credentialing ecosystem as ABET.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ABET social profiles
Digital presenceABET financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ABET leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ABET funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ABET M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ABET
What does ABET do?
ABET is a global quality assurance and accreditation agency that accredits college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. It also evaluates and recognizes micro-credentials and digital badges from various providers through a structured review process, providing standardization and employer trust in non-degree learning.
When was ABET founded?
ABET was founded in 1932. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ABET based?
ABET is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does ABET make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Accreditation Services are the primary driver. The others are credential Recognition Services.
Who are ABET's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AACSB International, EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) and AMBA (Association of MBAs). Broad incumbents are Higher Learning Commission (HLC), SACSCOC and CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation). Regional players are QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) and ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education). Credly is listed as an emerging player. Credential Engine is listed as an others.
Does ABET have an API?
No public API is recorded for ABET.
What industry is ABET in?
ABET's product category is Education Accreditation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAFAC, Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas), with a secondary code of EDADAFAK, Digital Assessment Platforms & Computer-Based Testing Authorities. Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8700.