Pennsylvania Western University today announced that the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has formally reaffirmed the university’s institutional accreditation through 2033.
This decision builds on MSCHE’s 2022 actions, when the commission first reaffirmed accreditation for PennWest — immediately after approving a March 10, 2022, substantive-change request that integrated the former California, Clarion and Edinboro universities into a single, career-focused institution.
“Our entire community — faculty, staff, students, trustees and alumni — should be proud of this result,” said Dr. Jon Anderson, president of PennWest. “The evaluation team commended our evidence-based approach to student learning and the seamless integration of our California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses into one mission-driven university.”
WHAT THE DECISION MEANS
MSCHE accreditation is the independent seal of approval that keeps PennWest students eligible for federal financial aid and assures employers, graduate schools and licensing bodies of the rigor of PennWest’s degrees.
MSCHE is also a federally recognized accreditor, serving as the U.S. Department of Education’s “gatekeeper” for institutional quality and accountability.
RIGOROUS REVIEW
PennWest’s reaffirmation caps a self-study begun in 2023, an onsite evaluation visit in March 2025 and the commission’s formal vote in June. During the visit, a peer-review team met with students, faculty, staff, administrators and trustees, examining everything from academic assessment and student support to governance, finance and planning.
PennWest’s statement of accreditation status and MSCHE actions can be found on the Assessment, Accreditation and Accountability webpage.
ABOUT PENNWEST
PennWest is the second-largest public university in western Pennsylvania, with campuses in California, Clarion, Edinboro and online. The university offers over 100 certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs, pairing hands-on learning with dedicated career coaching to prepare career-ready, lifelong learners.
ABOUT THE MIDDLE STATES COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
MSCHE is an independent, nonprofit institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Through rigorous peer review and equitable standards, MSCHE promotes educational excellence and innovation across more than 500 member institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.