Accreditation

MSCHE requires that “institutions meet rigorous and comprehensive accreditation standards, assuring students and the public of excellence in higher education.” MSCHE affirms “the quality of higher education through peer review, assessment, and evaluation. An institution is accredited when the educational community has confirmed through self-reflection and peer review that its mission is achieved and progress is made toward institutional goals. Accredited institutions pursue excellence and innovation at all levels through ongoing quality assurance, improvement, innovation, and systematic, periodic, and sustained assessment.” (2025, Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation | Fourteenth Edition, Middle States Commission of Higher Education)

Tompkins Cortland Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801. (267-284-5011) www.msche.org. The MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

The College was granted accreditation in 1973.  

Accreditation was most recently reaffirmed in 2018.  
Most recent Mid-Point Peer Review (MPPR): 2022
Next Self Study Evaluation: 2026-2027

Tompkins Cortland Community College has additional locations at the Cortland Extension Center, Ithaca Extension Center (Nancy S. Lieberman Extension Center), Coltivare Culinary Center, Walt Disney World Resort, and offers coursework at high schools in Tompkins and Cortland Counties as well at selected high schools in Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Delaware, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, and Tioga Counties of New York State.  Coursework supporting programs are also offered at numerous locations within the Central and Southern Tier Regions of New York State. The College is approved to offer its programs by distance learning.

The College’s Statement of Accreditation Status may be viewed on the  Middles States Commission on Higher Education website.
 

States where TC3 can confirm our program meets licensure requirements: New York

States and Territories where TC3 can confirm our program does not meet licensure requirements: None

States and Territories where can TC3 has not determined if our program meets licensure requirements:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin
Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

• New York State Licensure
• Pennsylvania State Licensure
• Massachusetts State Licensure

States where TC3 can confirm our program meets licensure requirements: New York

States and Territories where TC3 can confirm our program does not meet licensure requirements: None

States and Territories where can TC3 has not determined if our program meets licensure requirements:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin
Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

New York State Licensure

For more information in obtaining the NY State Licensure, visit https://oasas.ny.gov/credentialing

Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified. The Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate program at Tompkins Cortland Community College is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State.  

For more information in obtaining the NY State Licensure, visit https://oasas.ny.gov/credentialing

The CollegeNow Concurrent Enrollment program is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), P.O. Box 578 Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Website: www.nacep.org. NACEP accreditation distinguishes high-quality concurrent enrollment programs administered by institutions of higher education throughout the nation.

CollegeNow has been accredited by NACEP since 2009. The last reaffirmation of accreditation was in 2024, after completion of a self-study process. The next reaccreditation evaluation is due in 2030-31.