Release Date: July 7, 2025
PITTSBURGH, PA – Carlow University has been officially re-accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as of June 26, 2025, reaffirming Carlow’s continued commitment to educational excellence, integrity, and transformative student outcomes. This new accreditation cycle will be in effect through 2033.
The announcement follows a comprehensive multi-year self-study and a peer evaluator team site visit in April 2025. The re-accreditation ensures Carlow maintains full compliance with MSCHE’s quality standards, which evaluate institutions across all areas of operation.
“Re-accreditation is a tremendous accomplishment, and I am deeply proud of the entire Carlow community,” said Dr. Kathy W. Humphrey, President of Carlow University. “This moment affirms that we are living our mission—serving students with excellence, staying true to our Mercy values, and working together to ensure that every learner has the opportunity to grow, lead, and make an impact.”
MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an institutional accreditor responsible for ensuring that higher education institutions meet established benchmarks for effectiveness and integrity. The accreditation applies to all educational programs, encompassing everything conducted in the name of the university, from classroom learning to student services, brand communications, and ethical governance.
As stated in the MSCHE Standards for Accreditation, institutions that meet these criteria can confidently declare: “Our students are well-served; society is well-served.”
This re-accreditation comes at a moment of growth and transformation for the University. Over the past several years, Carlow has expanded academic offerings, deepened community partnerships, and grown enrollment while staying true to its founding mission: to offer a transformative education that empowers students to become ethical leaders, helping to create a just and merciful world.
More than 100 members of the Carlow community—including faculty, staff, students, and trustees—participated in the self-study process. Their efforts were guided by core priorities such as enhancing the student experience, expanding access, and advancing mission-driven leadership. The peer review team commended Carlow’s transparency and focus on student success.
Carlow’s accreditation ensures continued eligibility for federal funding and affirms the university’s academic quality and integrity. Most importantly, it reinforces the promise that every Carlow student receives a meaningful education—one that nurtures talent and hard work, and prepares graduates to make a difference in their communities.
About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located at the hub of Pittsburgh’s most cutting-edge industries. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1929, Carlow’s curricula and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to forward-thinking leadership and impactful service to the community.
At Carlow University, we strive to create an experience that is not only life-changing, but world-changing. Carlow graduates are prepared to be pioneers in workforce development, healthcare, education, business, the arts, and more. They are part of a nearly one-hundred-year tradition of ethical leaders with the empathy and spirit to create meaningful societal change. Rooted in unity and led by compassion, we are redefining what a leader looks like —and it looks like a Carlow graduate.
Contact
Carlow University
John Cardone, VP of Marketing and Communications
412-578-6100
jvcardone@carlow.edu
