Accreditation

Houghton University, a nationally recognized Liberal Arts, Christian University is incorporated under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Houghton University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) www.msche.org. Houghton University’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status in 2015 was to reaffirm accreditation.

MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

MSCHE Middle States Commission on Higher Education

1935

First Accredited

2015

Last Accredited

2023-2024

Next Self-Study Review
Self Study Design: May 2022
Self Study: Anticipated September 2023

Why does accreditation matter?

Accreditation is a form of peer review where representatives from other higher education institutions review an institution's performance on specific metrics. It is an important means of signaling to the public an institution’s academic quality, organizational effectiveness, and sustainability. Accreditation assures that you will receive:

  • A quality education.
  • Access to federal financial aid (this includes PELL/SEOG grants that do not need to be repaid and direct/parent direct student loans).
  • Higher likelihood to transfer your college credits to another institution or pursue a Master's or Doctoral degree.

To be accredited, a college must demonstrate that they meet rigorous published standards, including that past students have graduated and earned employment in their field and that courses are taught with consistent quality. When a college or degree program is properly accredited, you can be confident in its overall quality without having to conduct a detailed analysis on your own.

AAQEP logo Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation

Houghton University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The programs listed below have been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through June 30, 2028. Full accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

AAQEP-Accredited Programs at Houghton University
B.A. – Adolescence Education
B.A. – Inclusive Adolescence Education
B.S. – Inclusive Childhood Education
B.Mus. – Music Education
M.S.Ed. - Literacy
View Houghton University's Annual Report

Houghton’s Greatbatch School of Music has been an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1947. Maintaining this accreditation involves annual reporting of activities, NASM reviews of every new program, and a rigorous self-study with visiting peer reviewers completed every 10 years by the school of music, ensuring that all degrees offered comply with NASM’s regularly published and updated standards.