Northern Michigan University is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

All education programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Other accreditations include the American Chemical Society; the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences; the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (Communication Disorders); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Professionals (Surgical Technology); National Association of Industrial Technology; National Association of Schools of Music; the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the Council on Social Work Education; the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Certification; and approval by International Association of Counseling Services, Inc.

In addition, the nursing programs (practical nursing, baccalaureate and master's degrees) are fully approved by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulation, State Board of Nursing and the baccalaureate and master's degrees are fully accredited by the National League for Nursing. Nursing is also a pre-approved program of the Commissions on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).