The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is one of six regional higher education accrediting agencies in the United States. It offers peer-based evaluation and accreditation for educational institutions within the Mid-Atlantic region of the country, which includes New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools also evaluates and accredits institutions in other countries, such as Canada and Chile, as well as a number of European, Asian, and African countries.
A non-profit organization, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is composed of volunteers, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
The Middle States Association is subdivided into three commissions: the Commission on Higher Education (which focuses exclusively on universities and colleges), the Commission on Secondary Schools, and the Commission on Elementary Schools.
The Middle States Association is not to be confused with the Middle States Accrediting Board (MSAB), which is recognized by neither the CHEA nor the DOE. The MSAB is typically associated with “diploma mills,” (organizations which produce fake diplomas, degrees and certificates for a fee) who often cite the MSAB to make their practices appear more legitimate.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is one of the three commissions within the Middle States Association. The MSCHE evaluates and accredits colleges and universities as a whole; it does not evaluate specific programs within an institution.
When accrediting a higher education institution, the MSCHE gathers information and shares that information with a network of peer institutions, for the purpose of evaluating and assessing the institution’s practices. The MSCHE then offers consultation and cooperation towards the goal of improving the school’s educational activities and environment.
The MSCHE publishes a quarterly document which announces affirmations or revocations of accreditation, as well as warnings for the educational community in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The main focus of the MSCHE is the evaluation and accreditation of schools within the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. However, it also works to evaluate and accredit schools in countries throughout the world.
For more information about the MSCHE, visit the organization’s website at www.msche.org. A list of all colleges and universities currently accredited by the organization can be found at www.msche.org/institution/
See also:
– Accreditation in Higher Education
Regional Accreditors:
– Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)
– North Central Association of Colleges and Schools The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)
– Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities (NWCCU)
– Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
– Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges
National Accreditors
– Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
– Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
– Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
– Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
– Council on Occupational Education (COE)