Statement of Accreditation Status
Saint Joseph’s University
- CEO: Dr. Cheryl McConnell, President
- Accreditation Liaison Officer: Dr. Kevin Clapano
- Commission Staff Liaison: To Be Assigned, Vice President
- Carnegie Classification: Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium » Research 2: High Spending and Doctorate Production
- Control: Private (Non-Profit)
- Former Name(s): St. Joseph's College (1/1/1979)
- Phase: Accredited
- Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
- Accreditation Granted: 1922
- Last Reaffirmation: June 27, 2024
- Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2031-2032
- July 31, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of June 27, 2024. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032. - July 31, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 21, 2024. To acknowledge receipt of evidence of approval, dated May 22, 2025, from the United States Department of Education (USDE) of the merger with Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences and the additional location of 850 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. To note the Commission action of July 31, 2025, for Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. - February 28, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to note the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on February 17, 2025. To remind the institution of the Commission request of June 27, 2024, for a supplemental information report due March 3, 2025. The next self-study visit is scheduled for 2031-2032. - November 21, 2024
To note that the complex substantive change site visit occurred on June 12-14, 2024, to the main campus at 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131 and the additional location at 850 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. To note that the information in the complex substantive change was verified. To note that written evidence of required approvals has been provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of State's Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. To request an updated supplemental information report, due June 30, 2025, providing (1) written evidence of review, including but not limited to, approval of the transaction from the United States Department of Education (Standard II) and (2) written evidence of the institution's updated Eligibility and Certification Approval Report (ECAR) reflecting the inclusion of the additional location (Standard VI). To remind the institution of its obligation to inform the Commission about any and all developments relevant to this action. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032. - June 27, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note the on-site evaluation visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131 on April 7-10, 2024. To note the following additional locations were visited: (1) 850 Greenfield Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601 and (2) 600 S. 43rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. To reaffirm accreditation. To request a supplemental information report, due March 3, 2025, providing further evidence of (1) an implemented, systematic, and sustained process to assess student learning outcomes at all levels and across all programs (Standard V) and (2) consideration and use of assessment results for the improvement of student learning outcomes, student achievement, and institutional and program-level educational effectiveness (Standard V) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-2032. - March 28, 2024
To note that the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on February 23, 2024. To remind the institution of the Commission's request of September 25, 2023 for a complex substantive change supplemental information report due June 3, 2024. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024. - March 28, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 6, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment – FTE), as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update (AIU) in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19(d). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024. - January 18, 2024
To acknowledge receipt on January 4, 2024, of the notification of the transaction closing date of the merger of Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences with Saint Joseph's University which occurred on January 2, 2024. The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2023-2024. - November 6, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due December 13, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment – FTE) as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19 (d). The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2023-2024. - September 25, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the complex substantive change request. To include the change in legal status, form of control, and ownership within the institution's scope of accreditation, effective January 3, 2024. To note the complex substantive change request includes the merger of Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences with Saint Joseph's University, effective, January 3, 2024, the anticipated date of the transaction. To require notification of the date of the closing of the transaction within five calendar days of the transaction by email to [email protected] or, if there is a subsequent delay in the anticipated date of the closing of the transaction, to require immediate notification to the Commission of the revised anticipated transaction date. To note that Saint Joseph's University is the surviving institution. To note that the surviving institution is responsible for ensuring the submission of all required reports and information on behalf of the integrated institution. To further note that Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences' accreditation will cease effective August 31, 2024. As of September 1, 2024, Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences will no longer be accredited. To note the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences will maintain accreditation for the sole purpose of implementing the teach-out plan and agreements and effectuating the change in ownership process with the United States Department of Education per the United States Department of Education's Updated Guidance and Procedures for Changes in Ownership, dated September 15, 2022 (Electronic Announcement ID: GENERAL-22-70). To note that degree granting authority of Pennsylvania College of the Health Sciences will cease effective August 31, 2024. To note the transfer of Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences student records, programs, and services to Saint Joseph's University. To note the action for Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences on September 25, 2023. To note that written approval from the following agency has been received: Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General, Orphan's Court. To note that the following additional location is included within the institution's scope of accreditation: 850 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. To require immediate notification in the institution portal when instruction commences at the additional location. To note that the Commission may rescind this action if instruction does not commence within one calendar year from the date of this action. To request a complex substantive change supplemental information report, due June 3, 2024, providing (1) the updated status of the complex substantive change (Substantive Change Policy and Complex Substantive Change Procedures); (2) written evidence of review, including but not limited to, approval of the transaction from all outstanding required licensing, regulatory, or other legal entities as necessary, including the United States Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (Standard II); and, (3) written evidence of the institution's updated Eligibility and Certification Approval Report (ECAR) reflecting the inclusion of the additional location. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations including post-transaction requirements. To direct a complex substantive change site visit to the main campus at 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131 and the additional location at 850 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 as soon as practicable but no later than six months after the anticipated date of the transaction, January 1, 2024. To remind the institution of its obligation to inform the Commission about any and all developments relevant to this action. To note the Commission may rescind this action if any development reveals additional information that might have affected the Commission's decision or the complex substantive change is not implemented within one year of this action. To direct the institution to conduct a new comprehensive evaluation in accordance with Commission policy and procedures and federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.22(h) in anticipation of an evaluation visit in 2026-2027. To note the institution is currently in self-study in anticipation of an evaluation visit in 2023-2024. - Distance Education
Approved to offer programs by this delivery method - Correspondence Education
Not approved for this delivery method - Postsecondary award (< 1 year) Included within the scope
- Postsecondary award (1-2 years) Included within the scope
- Associate's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Post-baccalaureate Certificate Included within the scope
- Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Post-Master's Certificate Included within the scope
- Doctor's Degree - Professional Practice Included within the scope
- Doctor's Degree- Research/Scholarship Included within the scope
- Main Campus
Saint Joseph's University
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131 - Additional Location
Delaware County Intermediate Unit
200 Yale Avenue
Media, PA 19070 - Additional Location
Saint Joseph's University Lancaster
850 Greenfield Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
Opened: 01/16/2024 - Additional Location
University City
600 South 43rd Street
Philadelphia,, PA 19104
Opened: 06/01/2022 - Other Instructional Site
Bucks County Training Center
1760 South Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18901 - Other Instructional Site
Delaware County Community College Southeast Center
2000 Elmwood Avenue
Sharon Hill, PA 19079 - Other Instructional Site
Independence Blue Cross
1901 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103 - Other Instructional Site
Keystone Mercy Health Center
200 Stevens Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19113 - Other Instructional Site
Lower Merion Police Department
71 East Lancaster Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003 - Other Instructional Site
Main Line Health
100 East Lancaster Avenue
Wynnewood, PA 19096 - Other Instructional Site
Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School
2600 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19145 - Other Instructional Site
Philadelphia Police Academy
8501 State Road
Philadelphia, PA 19136 - Other Instructional Site
School District Philadelphia
440 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130 - Other Instructional Site
The Wistar Institute
3601 Spruce Street, Room G-12D
Philadelphia, PA 19104 - Other Instructional Site
United Way of Southeastern PA
1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadephia, PA 19103 - Other Instructional Site
Upper Darby School District
4611 Bond Avenue
Drexel Hill, PA 19026 - Other Instructional Site
Upper Providence Police Station
1286 Black Rock Road
Oaks, PA 19456
Approved Credential Levels
The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:
The following are links to sites that are not maintained by the MSCHE. These are provided as additional external resources about each institution that the MSCHE accredits.