The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an accrediting agency serving a diverse membership of public and private higher education institutions within and outside the United States. Through peer review, membership-approved standards of accreditation and frequent workshops and Town Hall meetings, MSCHE promotes continuous institutional improvement and assures the membership and its constituencies (including the public) that the accredited institutions are fulfilling their missions serving students and the public.

MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority concerning:

the quality of education offered by institutions of higher education and for certifying institutional eligibility for federal funding in a number of programs, including student access to federal financial aid. Institutional accreditation is required for participation in federal and state financial aid programs. Accreditation is important for the acceptance and transfer of college credit, is often required for student application to graduate programs, and is frequently necessary for research grant funding.

Accreditation is periodically reaffirmed through a comprehensive review process that includes an institutional self-study that results in a comprehensive Self-Study Report, an external review by colleagues from peer institutions, and a site visit at least once every eight years.