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Regional Accrediting Organizations 2022-2023

Regional accrediting commissions are among the oldest accrediting organizations in the country. The United States has been divided into six historic accreditation regions: New England, Middle States, North Central, Southern, Western and Northwest. In 2020 geographical boundaries for these accreditors were elminated. All regional accrediting commissions review entire institutions, as opposed to programs or schools within institutions.

 

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Regional Accrediting Organization Name Year Founded Number of Institutions Number of Students
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges 1962 136 2,200,000
Higher Learning Commission 1895 959 4,801,247
Middle States Commission on Higher Education 1919 519 3,990,790
New England Commission of Higher Education 1885 252 N/A
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 1917 158 1,702,477
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 1895 780 6,593,228
WASC Senior College and University Commission 1924 214 1,399,418
Regional Totals 3,018 20,687,160