On March 9, 2023, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College was granted the status of Candidate for Accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is a voluntary, non-governmental, institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) that accredits higher educational institutions.  

NPRC’s Accreditation Readiness Report was acknowledged and accepted at the March 2023 Commission Meeting after MSCHE representatives completed site visits in November 2022. With this announcement, NPRC is invited to begin the self-study process based on continuous improvement of the College’s compliance; assessment; and integration of the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation, Requirements of Affiliation, MSCHE policies and procedures, and all applicable federal regulatory requirements.  
 

NPRC’s President, Susan Snelick, noted, “This is a significant milestone and one of the most important days in the young history of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College. I am proud of the entire NPRC team, legislative advocates, students, and our community and location partners. We look forward to continuing to work closely alongside the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as we strive to meet NPRC’s mission and service the region’s residents and employers.”

Institutions with Candidacy status are required to achieve accreditation affirmation within five years. While pursuing accreditation, Candidate institutions are eligible to complete the application process to award Title IV Financial Aid. This aid includes programs associated with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ®). Upon successful Title IV application completion, the College will be eligible to award aid such as Pell grants and Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) funding in addition to the institutional aid the institution currently awards our enrollees. 

NPRC will continue to provide further updates on the institution’s status for accreditation and status of being awarded Title IV aid as they become available. 
 
About NPRC: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is authorized by the PA Department of Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The College’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to the residents of northern Pennsylvania. NPRC brings affordable education to a nine-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Venango, and Warren). With flexible scheduling options at numerous instructional locations, attending Northern Pennsylvania Regional is an excellent option for individuals interested in furthering their education close to home. With a growing team of high-quality industry-leading instructors directing our classrooms, students are empowered by a welcoming community to change their lives and brighten their futures. NPRC is actively pursuing accreditation. https://regionalcollegepa.org.