Middle States Accreditation

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), commonly known as “Middle States,” is one of seven institutional accreditors in the United States. It primarily accredits colleges and universities in the mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), MSCHE currently accredits more than 500 institutions both in the U.S. and internationally.

In 2019, the USDE eliminated the regional accreditation boundaries, enabling MSCHE and other accreditors to serve as institutional accreditors for colleges and universities nationwide.

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Accreditation from MSCHE assures students and the public of the educational quality of its over 500 institutions of higher education. MSCHE’s accreditation process ensures institutional accountability, self-appraisal, improvement, and innovation through peer review and the rigorous application of standards within the context of institutional mission.

Under the Higher Education Act’s (HEA’s) federal student aid programs, accrediting agencies such as MSCHE as recognized by USDE must meet the Department’s regulatory criteria. MSCHE is a Title IV gatekeeper and a link to federal programs, and institutions access Title IV through MSCHE accreditation.

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Middle States reviews the entire institution and thus provides accreditation for all areas. In contrast, ACBSP, CIDA, and NASAD provide accreditation for specific programs. ACBSP currently accredits seven programs in Business & Technology. CIDA accredits the Interior Design degrees. NASAD accredits all of the art and design programs at FIT, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, that fall under its purview.  

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To be accredited by Middle States, an institution must meet the Commission’s Requirements of Affiliation and demonstrate ability to comply with its Standards for Accreditation using evidence.  

The 7 standards of accreditation include:

• Standard 1: Mission and goals;
• Standard 2: Ethics and integrity;
• Standard 3: Design and delivery of the student learning experience;
• Standard 4: Support of the student experience;
• Standard 5: Educational effectiveness assessment;
• Standard 6: Planning, resources and institutional improvement;
• Standard 7: Governance, leadership and administration.

» MSCHE’s Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation
» MSCHE’s Evidence Expectations by Standard

In addition, institutions must comply with certain federal regulations that are monitored by Middle States through the Institutional Federal Compliance Report, completed as part of the self-study process. Institutions must provide evidence that they have documented policies and procedures in the following areas:

1. Student identity verification in distance and correspondence education
2. Transfer of credit policies and articulation agreements
3. Title IV program responsibilities
4. Institutional records of student complaints
5. Required information for students and the public
6. Standing with State and other accrediting agencies
7. Written arrangements
8. Assignment of credit hours

» MSCHE’s Verification of Compliance Process

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The Middle States Commission recently revised the accreditation process so that it occurs in eight year cycles.  These are the primary components:

1. Self-Study. This is an in-depth institutional analysis that takes place every eight years.  This requires the institution to review its programs, services, and operations with respect to the Middle States standards and its own mission and goals.  A report documenting the institution’s compliance with the standards, strengths, and opportunities for improvement is produced by the institution. The report is reviewed by a team of peer reviewers who then visit campus for several days, speaking with a wide variety of constituents. Reviewers may make recommendations to the institution, and the Commission reviews the self-study and team report to determine whether accreditation is reaffirmed.
2. Annual Institutional Update.  Each institution is required to submit data about the institution, its students, and its programs annually.  In addition, institutions may provide updates from Middle States recommendations made in prior self-studies. 
3. Mid-Point Peer Review. This takes place at the midpoint of the self-study process. It consists of a review of four years of institutional updates by a team of peers, as well as any follow up reports on Middle States recommendations. This replaces the previous Periodic Review Report, or PRR. 

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