Accreditation
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers a nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the University equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment, and leadership in the 21st century.
The University of Mount Saint Vincent is independently chartered to grant degrees by the Regents of the State of New York. It is registered by the New York State Education Department, Office of Higher Education, in Albany, NY.
The University of Mount Saint Vincent is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)*, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
MSCHE 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. USDE recognizes accrediting agencies deemed authorities on the quality of higher education. Under the Higher Education Act’s (HEA’s) federal student aid programs, accrediting agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education must meet the Department’s regulatory criteria. MSCHE is a Title IV gatekeeper and is a link to federal programs, and institutions access Title IV through MSCHE accreditation.
Contact: 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 | (267) 284-5000
The University of Mount Saint Vincent also holds program-specific accreditation from the following independent accrediting agencies:
1) The BS in Business Administration and the BS in Accounting degrees
These degrees are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Contact: 11520 West 119th Street, Overland Park, KS 66213 | (913) 339-9356
2) The baccalaureate degree in nursing/master’s degree in nursing at the University of Mount Saint Vincent
This degree is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Contact: 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20001 | ccneaccreditation.org
3) The University of Mount Saint Vincent Teacher Education Department
All Teacher Education programs at UMSV are accredited by AAQEP (Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation) and have been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through June 30, 2031. 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, founded in 2017, is one of two professional education accrediting associations that are accepted by NYSED (New York State Education Department). It is a national accreditor dedicated to strengthening P-12 education through excellent educator preparation.
Contact: 173 Milkweed Drive, Lake Frederick, VA 22630 | (301) 276-5106 | aaqep@aaqep.org
Accrediting agencies’ letters of approval are available to all interested parties for inspection.
*The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 27, 2024 was to warn the institution. The University of Mount Saint Vincent is committed to continuing the improvements to our educational effectiveness assessment processes, and we look forward to working with the Commission to be fully in compliance.
The Commision makes available the opportunity to submit third-party comments regarding the institution’s compliance with standards of accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements in accordance with the Commission’s Third-Party Comments Policy.