Six public university systems partnered to found CPHE: the State University System of Florida, the University System of Georgia, the University of North Carolina System, the University of South Carolina System, the Texas A&M University System, and the University of Tennessee System.
Membership in CPHE is open to public colleges and universities in the United States. As of Fall of 2025, CPHE’s focus is on public institutions that offer at least a bachelor’s degree. CPHE’s Board of Directors may widen CPHE’s membership to include public institutions that offer only associate’s degrees in the future.