Statement of Accreditation Status
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Institution:
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ -
Address:
One Nassau Hall
Princeton, NJ 08544-0015 -
Phone:
(609) 258-3000
- URL:
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Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO):
Dr. Rebekah Peeples
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Commission Staff Liaison:
Kathy Feith, Vice President
The Statement of Accreditation Status (SAS) is the official statement of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) about each institution’s current accreditation status and scope of accreditation. The SAS also provides a brief history of the actions taken by the Commission.
Accreditation Summary
For more information, see the Commission’s Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures.
- Phase: Accredited
- Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
- Accreditation Granted: 1921
- Last Reaffirmation: 2024
- Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2031-2032
Alternative Delivery Methods
The following represents approved alternative delivery methods included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:
Distance Education
Approved to offer programs by this delivery method
Correspondence Education
Not approved for this delivery method
Credential Levels
Approved Credential Levels
The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:
- Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Doctor's Degree- Research/Scholarship Included within the scope
Locations
The following represents branch campuses, additional locations, and other instructional sites that are included within the scope of the institution’s accreditation:
| Location | Type |
|---|---|
| Princeton University One Nassau Hall Princeton, NJ 08544-0015 | Main Campus |
| Global Seminar in China Peking University, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District Beijing, Beijing Municipality 100871 | Other Instructional Site |
| Global Seminar in India Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Karnataka 560012 | Other Instructional Site |
| Global Seminar in Italy Irpinia Escapes Srl, Padre Pio Street Gesualdo, Campania (Province of Avellino) 83040 | Other Instructional Site |
| Global Seminar in Kenya Maseno University, Kondele, Kisumu–Busia Road Kisumu, Kisumu County | Other Instructional Site |
| Global Seminar in Vienna Sigmund Freud Museum, Berggasse 19 Vienna, Austria | Other Instructional Site |
| Journalism in Greece College Year in Athens (CYA), 5 Stadiou Square Athens, Attica 11635 | Other Instructional Site |
| Marseille, France - Global Seminar in Tunisia and France TBC Marseille, France | Other Instructional Site |
| Mpala Research Center PO Box 555 Nanyuki, Kenya | Other Instructional Site |
| Paris, France - Global Seminar in Tunisia and France St. John’s University Paris, 93 Sevres Street Paris, Île-de-France | Other Instructional Site |
| Princeton in Aix en Provence IS Aix-en-Provence, 30 Military Schools Avenue Aix-en-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur 13100 | Other Instructional Site |
| Princeton in Argentina Torcuato Di Tella University, President Figueroa Alcorta Avenue 7350 Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires C1428 | Other Instructional Site |
| Princeton in Beijing Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District Beijing, Beijing Municipality | Other Instructional Site |
| Princeton in Ishikawa Rifare 3rd Floor, 1-5-3 Honmachi Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0853 | Other Instructional Site |
| Princeton in Leipzig interDaF e.V., c/o Herder Institute, University of Leipzig, Lumumbastrasse 4 Leipzig, Saxony 04105 | Other Instructional Site |
| Princeton in Pisa Scuola Normale Superiore, Knights’ Square 7 Pisa, Tuscany (Province of Pisa) 56126 | Other Instructional Site |
| Princeton in Spain Ortega y Gasset–Gregorio Marañón Foundation, San Justo Alley Toledo, Castile-La Mancha 45001 | Other Instructional Site |
| Princeton in Vienna Language Center, University of Vienna, Alser Street 4, University of Vienna Campus Courtyard 1 Vienna, Austria | Other Instructional Site |
| Religion Department Course in Denmark DIS – Copenhagen, 7 Vestergade Street Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark 1456 | Other Instructional Site |
| Spanish Department Seminar Abroad University of Pau and the Adour Region, Nive Campus, 8 Plane Tree Avenue Bayonne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) 64100 | Other Instructional Site |
| SPIA Seminar in Switzerland Boston University, Rue Muzy 18 Geneva, Switzerland | Other Instructional Site |
| Tunisia - Global Seminar in Tunisia and France Dar El Marsa Hotel, 75 Habib Bourguiba Avenue La Marsa, Tunis Governorate | Other Instructional Site |
Definitions: For definitions of branch campus, additional locations, or other instructional sites, see the Commission’s Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.
Accreditation Actions
The following represents the MSCHE accreditation actions taken in the last ten (10) years. For more information, see the Commission’s Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures and the Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.
- July 23, 2026Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of May 16, 2025. To request a supplemental information report, due March 15, 2027, providing the status of any and all developments related to any investigations conducted by the institution or by state, federal, or other government agencies related to the Commission action of May 20, 2024 (Standard 2) (Fifteenth Edition).
- May 16, 2025Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 1, 2024. To request a supplemental information report, due April 1, 2026, providing the status of any and all developments related to any investigations conducted by the institution or by state, federal, or other government agencies related to the Commission's action of May 20, 2024 (Standard II). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032.
- November 1, 2024To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of May 31, 2024. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032.
- November 1, 2024To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of May 20, 2024. To request a supplemental information report, due April 1, 2025, providing the status of any and all developments related to any investigations conducted by the institution or by state, federal, or other government agencies related to the Commission's action of May 20, 2024 (Standard II) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032.
- June 27, 2024To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note the on-site evaluation visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at One Nassau Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544 on March 17-20, 2024. To reaffirm accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032.
- May 31, 2024Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due July 1, 2024, that provides additional information on Standard II: Ethics and Integrity and Standard III: Design and Delivery of the Student Experience. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
- May 20, 2024Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due September 1, 2024, that provides additional information on Standard II: Ethics and Integrity and Standard IV: Support of the Student Experience. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
- March 4, 2021To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
- March 4, 2021To note that the Mid-Point Peer Review has been conducted and no further evidence is required at this time. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
- January 4, 2021To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include alternative delivery method-distance education within the institution's scope of accreditation. To note that the Commission reserves the right to rescind approval of this substantive change if any developments reveal additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision and/or the requested substantive change is not implemented within one calendar year from the date of this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
- November 23, 2020Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due January 4, 2021, addressing the United States Department of Education (USDE) letter to the institution dated September 16, 2020.
- April 16, 2020To acknowledge receipt of formal written notice from the institution in response to the Commission's request of March 9, 2020. To temporarily waive Substantive Change Policy and Procedures and allow the use of distance education to accommodate students impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) interruptions, in accordance with United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 5, 2020. Continued use of distance education beyond the limitations of USDE guidelines will require substantive change approval in accordance with Substantive Change Policy and Procedures. This flexibility is not available for clock-hour courses that lead to licensure if the licensing body will not accept distance learning courses or hours or give credit for them toward the number of hours a student must complete. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024.
- June 26, 2014To reaffirm accreditation and to commend the institution for the quality of the self-study process and report. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2019.
- November 17, 2011To accept the progress report. To request that the self-study, in preparation for the evaluation team visit in 2013-2014, document comprehensive, systematic evidence of achievement of (1) institutional mission and goals (Standard 7); and (2) general education and program-level student learning outcomes, including direct evidence of student learning (Standard 14).
- November 18, 2010To note the visit by the Commission’s representatives. To remind the institution of the progress letter, due September 1, 2011, documenting (1) implementation of comprehensive, integrated, and sustained processes to assess institutional effectiveness and student learning outcomes, including the achievement of institutional mission and goals, (2) direct evidence of the achievement of institutional and program-level student learning outcomes of undergraduate and graduate programs, and (3) use of assessment results in planning, resource allocation, and improvement of teaching, learning, programs and services (Standards 7 and 14). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2013-2014.
- November 19, 2009To accept the Periodic Review Report and to reaffirm accreditation. To request a progress letter, due September 1, 2011, documenting (1) implementation of comprehensive, integrated, and sustained processes to assess institutional effectiveness and student learning outcomes, including the achievement of institutional mission and goals, (2) direct evidence of the achievement of institutional and program-level student learning outcomes of undergraduate and graduate programs, and (3) use of assessment results in planning, resource allocation, and improvement of teaching, learning, programs and services (Standards 7 and 14). To direct a prompt staff visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2013-2014.
Information about the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a global institutional accreditor recognized since 1952 by the United States Secretary of Education. As an institutional accreditor and member of the regulatory triad, MSCHE assures students and the public of the educational quality for its over 500 institutions of higher education.
MSCHE accreditation applies to an institution as a whole rather than the specific programs within an institution. MSCHE does not approve or accredit individual programs. Each institution is regularly and consistently evaluated and monitored in accordance with the Commission’s policies and procedures.
An institution maintains its accreditation unless it is voluntarily surrendered, whether through institutional closure or otherwise, or it is denied or withdrawn by the Commission. For more information, visit msche.org.