Accreditation
Bucknell University is fully accredited until 2032.
Bucknell is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Accreditation is part of the tradition of voluntary self-regulation within the independent sector of higher education in the United States. The purpose of accreditation is to assure the quality and effectiveness of Bucknell's educational programs and services.
Accreditation involves a comprehensive peer assessment by higher education professionals every eight years and a substantive self-study, but without onsite peer review, at the mid-point of the accreditation cycle.
Accreditation seeks to demonstrate that:
- The University clearly knows where it wants to go.
- The University has the means to accomplish its goals.
- The University is succeeding substantially in achieving its goals and objectives.
Regional Authorization and Middle States Accreditation
Bucknell was chartered in the State of Pennsylvania on Feb. 5, 1846. The Charter has been amended periodically in accordance with the laws of Pennsylvania by the Court of Union County, including amendments to comply with the requirements and procedures specified in the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation Laws of 1972 and 1988.
The University has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1921. The Middle States Commission is one of the regional accrediting agencies recognized by the federal government to accredit educational institutions in the mid-Atlantic region. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The commission's geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.
The Commission's most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 27, 2024, was to reaffirm accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2031-32.
Accreditation by the Middle States Commission assures that:
- Bucknell meets all of the "fundamental elements" of the 7 standards for accreditation.
- Students at Bucknell are eligible to receive federal financial aid.
For the most recent accreditation action please visit MISCHE's Bucknell profile.
Specialized Programmatic Accreditation and Licensure
In addition to the regional accreditation of the whole institution, specific University programs must also meet all the standards of "specialized" accreditors:
- The Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredits the Freeman College of Management. Less than 5% of the world's 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB Accreditation.
Most recent accreditation letter - The Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredits the programs within the College of Engineering.
Most recent accreditation letter - The Computer Science Accreditation Board (CSAB) accredits the bachelor of science degree within the College of Arts & Sciences.
Most recent accreditation letter - The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees teaching certification within the Department of Education.
Most recent accreditation letter - The American Chemical Society (ACS) certifies programs within the Department of Chemistry.
Most recent accreditation letter - The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) conducts periodic certification reviews of Bucknell's athletic programs.
Accreditor Complaint Process
If a person wishes to file a complaint through the University's regional accrediting agency, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, that agency's complaint process and complaint form can be found here.