Accreditation
Mississippi State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees. MSU has been accredited by SACSCOC since 1926 with its most recent reaffirmation in 2024. More information is available at https://www.sacscoc.org/.
The College of Education at Mississippi State University has enjoyed long-standing accreditation on national, regional, and state levels. On a national level, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has accredited Mississippi State University through 2029, demonstrating that the university meets CAEP's rigorous national standards for educator preparation. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through content and pedagogy; clinical partnerships and practice; candidate recruitment, progression and support; program impact; quality assurance; and continuous improvement.
Additionally, CAEP awarded us the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement, a reflection of our commitment to strengthening P-12 learning.
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) Programs with CAEP, SPA, and State Recognition Status
Summary of the programs nationally recognized or state approved are listed below.
Initial Level Programs:
Elementary Education
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science
Campus:
Starkville, Meridian, Online
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
No SPA
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Kinesiology (Physical Education and Coaching)
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science
Campus:
Starkville
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
No SPA
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/27/2027
Secondary Education
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science
Campus:
Starkville
English Education
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) recognized until 2/1/2027
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Mathematics Education
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) accredited until 2028
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
No SPA
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Social Studies Education
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) recognized until 2/1/2028
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Special Education
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science
Campus:
Starkville
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) recognized until 2/1/2028
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Education Alternate Route
Degree(s):
MATS
Campus:
Online, Meridian
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
No SPA
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Master of Arts in Teaching - Special Education Alternate Route
Degree(s):
MATX
Campus:
Online
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
No SPA
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Music Education
Degree(s):
Bachelor of Music Education
Campus:
Starkville
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) recognized until 2026
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Advanced Level Programs:
Educational Leadership - School Administration (Building, Principal)
Degree(s):
Master of Science (MS)
Campus:
Meridian, Online
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) now known as National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) recognized until 8/1/2026
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
Education - School Administration (Building, Principal)
Degree(s):
Education Specialist (EDS)
Campus:
Meridian, Online
Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) CAEP Accreditation:
CAEP accredited through 2029
Specialized Professional Associations (SPA):
Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) now known as National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) recognized until 8/1/2026
State Approval by Mississippi Department of Education:
State approved through 3/15/2027
At the state level, our educator preparation programs are approved by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Some of the departments in the College of Education have program areas that maintain discipline-specific accreditation and approval.
The Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations’ School Psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and approved by the National Associations of School Psychologists (NASP). The Clinical Mental Health, School, and Rehabilitation Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). These accreditations are necessary for professional licensure for each discipline.
The programs in the Department of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
CAEP Accountability Measures
Data related to the CAEP Accountability Measures can be found here.