trenddjakarta.com, Jakarta, July 1, 2026 — Sampoerna University has become the first university in Indonesia and the only one in Southeast Asia to receive institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)—the U.S. accrediting body that also accredits Harvard University, Yale University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and more than 200 leading higher education institutions across four continents.
For the first time, Indonesian students can earn a four-year undergraduate degree in Jakarta, without leaving the country. From a university holding NECHE institutional accreditation, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. By comparison, a four-year undergraduate education at a NECHE-accredited private university in the United States typically costs USD 200,000–300,000. The same institutional accreditation standard is now accessible in Jakarta at a far more affordable cost.
“Not merely an achievement for Sampoerna University. Indonesia has now joined nine other countries with universities holding institutional accreditation from New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The standard that shapes higher education in the United States. Indonesian students no longer have to choose between staying in their home country or earning a globally recognized degree.” Said Dr. Marshall Schott, President of Sampoerna University.
Prof. Brian Yuliarto, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, stated.
“This achievement is a positive signal for Indonesia’s higher education ecosystem. The institutional accreditation from NECHE earned by Sampoerna University demonstrates that Indonesian higher education institutions have the capacity to establish governance, learning processes. And quality assurance systems that align with international standards. The Government encourages more universities across Indonesia to continue their transformation efforts. By strengthening academic quality, research, innovation, and international collaboration. Through these efforts, Indonesian higher education can create a greater impact for society, businesses, industries, and national development.”
Unlike partnership or twinning programs, NECHE institutional accreditation is granted to Sampoerna University as an institution in its own right. This means that every degree issued by Sampoerna University is evaluated based on the institutional standards of higher education in the United States. Without relying on overseas university partners.
Dr. Marshall Schott added. “Every Sampoerna University graduate now carries credentials evaluated against the same five standards used to accredit Harvard University, Yale University. And Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This creates greater opportunities for our students to pursue postgraduate studies, build international careers. And also strengthen Indonesia’s position on the global education map.”
In line with this, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology emphasizes the importance of higher education as a space for developing adaptive and innovative talent—a generation of young Indonesians who are not only globally competitive, but also capable of making meaningful contributions to the nation’s progress without having to leave their home country.
To achieve this status, Sampoerna University underwent a comprehensive accreditation process. The journey began when the university was declared eligible for candidacy by NECHE in November 2021. Since then, the university has gone through a series of rigorous evaluation stages, ranging from assessments by international academic panels to multiple on-site visits. Throughout the process, NECHE also reviewed various institutional support aspects, including faculty quality, campus facilities, learning systems, student services, and the university’s overall governance.
By meeting NECHE’s five core standards—institutional governance, academic quality, student learning outcomes, institutional effectiveness, and integrity and transparency—Sampoerna University upholds standards equivalent to those of accredited universities in the United States. This is reflected across every aspect of the institution, from its curriculum, faculty recruitment and development, laboratory facilities, and academic quality assurance system to its institutional governance, while remaining fully compliant with Indonesia’s higher education regulations.
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