Mildred Elley College wins Middle States accreditation

Mildred Elley College has received Middle States institutional accreditation, a step that places the Albany-based school among recognized higher-education institutions. The designation could help the college expand academic offerings and pursue bachelor's degrees in the future.

Why it matters: - Middle States institutional accreditation is a nationally recognized marker of academic quality. - The designation can strengthen Mildred Elley College’s standing with students, employers and higher-education peers. - The accreditation may support future expansion into more advanced degree programs, including bachelor's degrees.

What happened: - Mildred Elley College received Middle States institutional accreditation, Chairwoman of the Board Faith Takes announced on Sept. 18, 2026. - The college is based in Albany, New York, with a Manhattan campus and an extension site in Amsterdam, New York. - The school said the accreditation moves Mildred Elley College to an advanced level in higher education.

The details: - Mildred Elley College began pursuing the accreditation goal in 2019. - Faculty, administrators, students and employers worked together to meet academic, governance and compliance standards. - Faith Takes bought a nearly defunct secretarial school in 1985 and led it through multiple changes. - The institution became a state-recognized business school, then a nationally accredited institution, and later won authorization from the New York State Board of Regents to offer associate’s degrees in 1997. - The college opened its Manhattan branch in 2010. - The Amsterdam extension site opened in 2025 to help meet local health care workforce needs. - Mildred Elley College now focuses mainly on health care occupations, including nursing, certified medical assistant, massage therapist, certified nursing assistant and phlebotomist. - The college also offers fully online associate’s degrees in business management and paralegal studies. - In the school’s announcement, Faith Takes said the accreditation had been a long-term goal and credited faculty and staff for making it happen. - Dr. John McGrath, CEO and president of Mildred Elley College, said the school is entering a new stage as an official college and expects future projects aligned with Middle States standards.

Between the lines: - The accreditation caps a 40-year arc of institutional growth from a struggling secretarial school to a multi-site college. - The move gives Mildred Elley College a stronger platform to compete for students looking for career-focused training with more degree options. - The school’s health care focus suggests the college is aligning programs with regional workforce demand.

What's next: - Mildred Elley College is likely to use the accreditation to pursue additional academic offerings. - The college may also explore bachelor's-degree pathways if approvals and planning move forward. - The school said it will begin future projects aligned with Middle States standards.

The bottom line: - Middle States accreditation gives Mildred Elley College a higher-profile academic credential and a clearer path to broaden its program portfolio.