The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education is one of eight accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis.
Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole.
The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 200 institutions in the six-state New England region. Saint Michael's College was last accredited by the Commission in 1990. Its accreditation by the New England Association encompasses the entire institution. Saint Michael's College is engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission's Standards for Accreditation . An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate.