Institution accreditation is the process by which an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education assesses colleges and universities for compliance and quality. Accreditation is meant to reassure students and parents, along with federal officials, that colleges and universities are worthy of receiving federal student financial aid (“Title IV dollars”) to support students.

Accreditation agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must implement accreditation standards that comply with Department of Education regulations.

Accreditation may also apply to specific institutional departments and programs. These programmatic quality-assurance processes do not affect access to federal financial aid, but instead are linked to professional licensures or certifications to offer specific degree programs.

CPHE is intended to offer a compelling new option for public colleges and universities, capitalizing on recent changes to U.S. Department of Education regulations that encourage innovation in the accreditation sector. CPHE will distinguish itself from other accreditors by offering a distinctive value proposition that includes:

• A focus on the public mission of state colleges and universities.
• A practice of highlighting student outcomes rather than institutional inputs.
• A process for accreditation that remains rigorous while modernizing and simplifying compliance to reduce institutional burdens and save money for students and parents.

There is a clear need in the marketplace for a new accrediting agency to offer a focus on public institutions and on student outcomes while achieving process improvements for member institutions.

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 eventually widen CPHE’s membership to include public institutions that offer only associate degrees.

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.

Revisions made in 2020 to U.S. Department of Education regulations allow colleges and universities to select an institutional accreditor. Previously, most colleges and universities were assigned to an accreditor based on geography. The intent of those regulatory changes is to offer choices to institutions and encourage innovation in the accreditation sector.

An April 23, 2025 Executive Order, along with a May 1, 2025 “Dear Colleague” letter, forecasts revisions to U.S. Department of Education regulations intended to streamline the process by which a new accrediting agency may be recognized by the Department.

CPHE is an independent accreditor, governed by the same processes and regulations as existing accreditation agencies.

At its inception, the CPHE Board of Directors includes six members: one Director representing each of the six founding university systems. These six Directors are currently recruiting public Directors who are not affiliated with CPHE systems or institutions. In the months ahead, the CPHE Board of Directors expects to include six representative members and three public (non-representative) members, for a total of nine Directors. The ratio of three public members to six representative members will then exceed the one-to-seven ratio required by U.S. Department of Education regulations.

The Board of Directors will hold decision making authority for CPHE, in keeping with U.S. Department of Education regulations for accrediting agencies.
The bylaws for the Board of Directors can be found here.

Until CPHE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, institutions are likely to maintain membership with an existing, recognized accreditor while also seeking membership with CPHE. That approach ensures seamless access to federal financial aid for students.

Recognizing the need for a transition period, CPHE’s business plan does not call for institutions to pay application or membership fees until CPHE is recognized by the Department. Once the Department recognizes CPHE, institutions may choose to withdraw from their existing accreditor and rely on CPHE.

The state university systems partnering to create CPHE will contribute start-up costs, but CPHE will transition to a member-supported funding model similar to that of current accrediting agencies. Participating universities will pay annual fees to support CPHE.

The goal for CPHE is to be substantially more affordable than current accrediting agencies. By focusing exclusively on public universities, maintaining a disciplined set of standards, and avoiding unnecessary process burdens, CPHE will work toward a more efficient, more effective model of oversight that reduces fees and compliance costs for public institutions.

CPHE will waive process and membership fees for the initial cohort of colleges and universities that chooses to participate, recognizing that those institutions will need to maintain existing accreditation arrangements while CPHE is duly recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This is intended to smooth the transition process for member institutions.

CPHE expects to work with an initial cohort of roughly eight colleges and universities during the Fall of 2025, with a second cohort of colleges and universities submitting applications in 2026.

CPHE will submit an application for recognition to the U.S. Department of Education once it meets the regulatory requirements to do so, likely during late 2027.

The CPHE Board of Directors adopted these accreditation standards on October 1, 2025. These standards form an initial framework for CPHE to review applications from institutions and will be supplemented by evidentiary guidance. The standards are subject to review and revision as described in applicable U.S. Department of Education regulations.

We welcome questions and comments about CPHE via contact@cphe.org.