Central Michigan University was first accredited in 1915 by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) as Central State Teachers College and has been accredited since, with the exception of 1922-23. NCA accredited the first master’s program in 1957 and approved the offering of doctoral programs in 1992. The last comprehensive NCA evaluation took place in 1995-96. The current accrediting body is the NCA’s Higher Learning Commission.

A number of CMU programs have also been reviewed and accredited by one or more specialized accrediting organizations. The teacher education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). CMU has had NCATE accreditation since that body’s founding in 1954, making CMU one of the 174 charter members. CMU’s education programs are also approved by the Michigan Department of Education. Other programs hold national accreditation by one or more of the following organizations: American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business; American Psychological Association; American Speech, Language and Hearing Association; American Chemical Society; the Accreditation Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Athletic Training of the American Medical Association; Accreditation Review Committee – Physician Assistant (ARC-PA); Accrediting Council on Education on Journalism and Mass Communication; Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology; Educational Leadership Constituent Council; International Association for Management Education; National Association for the Education of Young Children; National Association of School Psychologists; National Association of Schools of Music, National Parks and Recreation Association.