About Middle States

Mission: The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) promotes educational excellence through innovation across diverse institutions. 

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) is recognized by the United States Department of Education to conduct institutional accreditation. In accordance with federal regulations, external accreditation is a requirement for institutions to participate in Title IV federal student financial aid (Pell, SEOG, federal loans). Institutions must meet the standards of their accreditor and be evaluated on a regular and consistent basis.  

About the Self-Study process 

MSCHE “requires that its institutions meet rigorous and comprehensive accreditation standards, which are addressed in the context of the mission of each institution and within the culture of ethical practices and institutional integrity expected of accredited institutions”. Institutions accredited by the Commission must meet seven Standards of Accreditation and be evaluated every eight years. This “self-study” is a three-year process that includes an in-depth and reflective analysis of the institution, its mission, policies, processes, and educational quality. The analysis is centered on gathering evidence of how well the institution meets each of the Commission’s seven standards. It should demonstrate institutional commitment to continuous improvement, generate opportunities for advancement or innovation, as well as identify or affirm institutional priorities. 

The self-study process engages the entire campus community and culminates in a visit from an external team of peer evaluators. Based on the evidence provided, the evaluation team will determine the institution’s compliance with MSCHE standards and reaffirm accreditation and/or make recommendations or requirements for follow-up action. 

Resources 

MSCHE Standards for Accreditation 

MSCHE Evidence Expectations by Standards  

Consumer Information Page