MSCHE USDE Recognition
The Commission is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidacy status) activities for institutions of higher education, including distance education and correspondence education programs offered at those institutions, throughout the United States.
We serve as deemed authorities on the quality of higher education, establishing standards of accreditation that have meaningful impact and center students in the ever-changing landscape of higher education. The Commission is proud of the role it serves in verifying the quality of higher education through peer review, assessment, and evaluation.
As part of the recognition process with the United States Department of Education (USDE), the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) met on December 16, 2025, where they considered the Commission. On March 16, 2026, USDE announced the continued recognition of the Commission until May 31, 2028, which is five years from our last petition period and the maximum allowed. The Commission’s Final Staff Report and the final reports, including the decision of the Senior Department Official (SDO), for all accrediting agencies appearing at the December meeting are publicly available on the Department’s e-Recognition site.
The Recognition Process
The process for USDE federal recognition occurs every five years.
What is NACIQI?
The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) was authorized and reconstituted by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. NACIQI provides recommendations regarding accrediting agencies that monitor the academic quality of postsecondary institutions and educational programs for federal purposes.
Since it reconvened in 2010, NACIQI has been advising the U.S. Secretary of Education on matters concerning accreditation, the Secretary’s recognition process for accrediting agencies, and institutional eligibility for federal student aid, through the Committee’s public meetings. (source sites.ed.gov/naciqi).
Data-influenced Decision Making
State of the Commission | 2025 Data
The Commission’s State of the Commission page provides data across many aspects of our institutional membership. The data provides an overview of Commission activities, the institutional membership composition, information regarding Commissioners and peer evaluators, and insights into our accreditation activities.
NACIQI Dashboard and Data
The NACIQI institutional accreditor dashboard and institutional accreditor data provide data as of July 2024.