Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Towson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to award undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees. In addition, certificates are awarded at the undergraduate upper-division, post-baccalaureate, and post-master's levels. MSCHE reaffirmed Towson University's accreditation on March 10, 2022, following an extensive self-study process. MSCHE has accredited Towson University since 1949.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a global institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education since 1952. As an accreditor and member of the regulatory triad, MSCHE assures students and the public of the educational quality for its over 500 institutions of higher education. The Commissioner's accreditation process ensures institutional accountability, self-appraisal, improvement, and innovation through peer review and the rigorous application of standards within the contect of institutional mission.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
1007 North Orange Street
4th Floor, MB #166
Wilmington, DE 19801
Maryland Higher Education Commission
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is the State of Maryland's higher education regulatory and coordinating board, responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and private colleges and universities, as well as for the for-profit career schools. The agency also administers financial aid programs to students across the state.
Towson University was chartered in the State Constitution as the Maryland State Normal School in 1865; consequently, Towson University is an "established school." Towson University has sought and received approval for all programmatic offerings.
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The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accredits the Master of Science in Athletic Training. TU's Athletic Training program received initial accreditation in 1999 and was last accredited in 2018.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology accredits professional programs. The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program has been accredited since 2001 and was reaccredited in 2020.
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) is the premier accrediting agency for business. Accreditation from AACSB is the longest standing and most recognized form of specialized accreditation business programs can receive. Towson University is accredited by AACSB for both business administration and accounting, a distinction held by less than 2% of business schools worldwide. Towson University’s programs were initially accredited in 1992 and were most recently reaccredited in 2023.
The College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs at Towson University. However, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relicensure or other purposes. Towson University’s programs have been accredited since 1954 and were last reaccredited in 2024.
The Maryland State Department of Education has approved TU's programs leading to teacher licensure.
ABET (Computing Accreditation Commission) , formerly known as the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology, accredits undergraduate programs in computer science. The B.S. in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Computer Science Program Criteria. The B.S. in Computer Science with a track in Cyber Operations is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the General Criteria and the Cybersecurity Program Criteria.
ABET most recently reaccredited TU's Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in 2024.
The National Association of Schools of Dance, (NASD) accredits institutions offering post secondary degrees/programs in dance. TU has been accredited by NASD since 1982 and was last accredited in 2025.
The National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation (NASM) accredits academic units. TU has been accredited by NASM since 1974 and was last reaccredited in 2015.
The National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on Accreditation (NAST) accredits academic units. TU has been accredited by NAST since 2003 and was last reaccredited in 2019.
The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry and Master of Science in Forensic Science are accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accrediting Commission (FEPAC). TU's programs have been accredited since 2011 and were last reaccredited in 2022.
The Bachelor of Science program in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). TU’s program has been accredited since 2017 and was last accredited in 2024.
The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs in nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. TU's nursing programs were most recently accredited in 2018.
The Maryland Board of Nursing has approved the registered nursing program.
TU's master and entry-level doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Graduates of these programs will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure.
TU's entry-level occupational therapy doctorate first received full accreditation in 2021. TU's master's program has been accredited since 1978 and was last reacrredited in 2022.
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Towson University Department of Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Towson University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be October 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
The M.A. in Psychology, Counseling Psychology Concentration at Towson University is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of February 2016 through June 2034.
The Master of Arts in Psychology with a School Psychology concentration and the associated Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology are fully accredited by the National School Association of School Psychologists (NASP) for the period of February 2020 through February 2027.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology accredits professional programs. The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program has been accredited since 1991 and was reaccredited in 2020.
Towson University is a member of the University System of Maryland, which includes 12 public institutions, three regional higher education centers, and a system office. The system is governed by a 21-member Board of Regents, appointed by the Governor of Maryland, President of the Maryland Senate, and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Towson University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). This voluntary regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education allows TU to offer its distance education programs in other member SARA states. Contact the Assistant Provost for Assessment, Accreditation and Compliance for questions related to SARA.
Membership in SARA now includes 49 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. California is the only state that has not joined SARA.
The table below details the current status of TU's state authorizations in non-SARA states:
| STATE | APPROVAL TO OFFER ONLINE COURSES/PROGRAMS | APPROVAL TO OFFER ONSITE COURSEWORK (PRACTICUM, INTERNSHIPS, INDEPENDENT STUDIES, ETC.) |
|---|---|---|
| California | Yes | Yes1 |
Policies and procedures, including appeals, that apply to all Towson University students are found in the undergraduate catalog, graduate catalog, the Code of Student Accountability, the Student Academic Integrity Policy, and the Policy Prohibiting Discrimination. TU has also established complaint procedures specifically relating to non-discrimination, sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct (Title IX), and ethics and compliance violations involving possible illegal, unethical, or improper conduct. For any matters not covered in the preceding links, students may also submit complaints directly to the Office of the Provost.
If a student believes the complaint has not been resolved appropriately by TU, then a complaint to the Maryland Higher Education Commission should be filed within two years of the incident by following MHEC's Student Complaint Process.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education process for complaints about an institution of higher education can be found on its Complaints webpage.
Distance Education/ Online Program and Course Complaints
After all internal TU complaint procedures are exhausted, students enrolled in a TU distance education/online program or course who reside in Maryland or another U.S. SARA member state (excluding California), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands may file a complaint about the distance education/online program or course with the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Students who reside in California while enrolled in a TU distance education/online program or course who wish to file a complaint about the distance education/online program or course should contact the California Department of Consumer Affairs.