Regional accreditor · Updated 2026
MSCHE Accreditation for Bible Colleges and Seminaries
Middle States accredits institutions across the Mid-Atlantic, a region with a deep bench of seminaries and a long history of theological education — Princeton Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Lancaster Bible College all sit inside this footprint.
At a glance
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Abbreviation
- MSCHE
- Type
- Regional
- Recognition
- Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and Recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Scope
- Institutional accreditation in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Founded
- 1919.
- Members
- Roughly 500 institutions.
Christian schools in the MSCHE region
Princeton Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, Lancaster Bible College, Alliance University, Nyack College, Cairn University, and Biblical Theological Seminary are among the Christian institutions accredited in the Middle States region. Most of the seminaries hold ATS accreditation alongside MSCHE.
New York and Pennsylvania together generate a substantial share of national search demand for Bible colleges, and the schools serving that demand are concentrated in the Philadelphia, Lancaster, and New York City corridors.
What Middle States reviews
MSCHE evaluates institutions against seven standards covering mission and goals, ethics and integrity, the design and delivery of the student learning experience, support of the student experience, educational effectiveness assessment, planning and resources, and governance and administration.
As with all regional accreditors, the student-facing implications are federal aid eligibility, broad credit transfer, and unquestioned degree recognition.
Verifying MSCHE accreditation
Search the MSCHE institution directory, confirm accredited status and the degree levels approved, and check for any published action such as a warning or probation. Cross-check in the Department of Education's DAPIP database.
Frequently asked questions
Which states does Middle States cover?
Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Is Princeton Theological Seminary accredited?
Yes. Princeton Theological Seminary holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and from the Association of Theological Schools.
MSCHE-accredited schools in our directory
These schools in the Find Bible Schools directory list MSCHE accreditation. Always confirm current status directly with the accreditor before applying.
Alliance Theological Seminary — Nyack
Nyack, New York · Christian and Missionary Alliance
C&MA seminary in the New York City area.
Lancaster Bible College — Capital Seminary
Lancaster, Pennsylvania · Non-denominational Evangelical
Bible college with an accredited seminary and strong online programs.
Westminster Theological Seminary
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Reformed / Presbyterian
Confessional Reformed seminary in the Old Princeton tradition.
Other accreditors to know
Faith-based
ABHE
Association for Biblical Higher Education
Faith-based
ATS
Association of Theological Schools
Faith-based
TRACS
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Faith-based
AARTS
American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions
Regional
SACSCOC
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Regional
HLC
Higher Learning Commission
Regional
NECHE
New England Commission of Higher Education
Regional
WSCUC
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Regional
NWCCU
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
← Back to the full accreditation guide
Accreditation status changes. Recognition details reflect publicly available information as of 2026 — always verify a school's current standing in the accreditor's own directory and the U.S. Department of Education's DAPIP database before enrolling.