Accreditation in higher education is a process of external quality review to scrutinize colleges, universities, and educational programs for quality assurance and quality improvement. In the United States, accreditation is carried out through private, nonprofit organizations designed for this specific purpose. Cornell is accredited through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting agency for educational institutions in the mid-Atlantic region recognized by the federal government. Cornell’s official Statement of Accreditation Status is maintained at the Middle States website.