Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. Because MSCHE is an institutional accreditor, we examine institutions as a whole rather than specific programs within institutions. MSCHE provides education, quality assurance, and other services to members. (MSCHE.org, About us)

Standards for Accreditation

Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation

An institution of higher education is a community dedicated to students, to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge, to the study and clarification of values, and to the advancement of the society it serves. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), through accreditation, mandates that its member institutions meet rigorous and comprehensive 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. In meeting the quality standards of MSCHE accreditation, institutions earn accredited status, and this permits them to state with confidence: “Our students are well-served; society is well-served.”

MSCHE Standards

Guided Review to the Standards for Accreditation Introduction and Standards:

Annual Institutional Update

MSCHE uses the Annual Institutional Update (AIU) as a way to monitor institutions through an annual review of key data indicators.

Self-Study Guide

Self-Study Guide. Includes seven modules, each of which deals with a step in planning and implementation of self-study.

MSCHE’s eight-year accreditation cycle includes a Self-Study Evaluation and On-Site Evaluation visit, and a Mid-Point Peer Review (MPPR).