Mahalo
Log in
Minneapolis, MN

Midwestern Higher Education Commission (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, MHEC)

EIN 38-3011476
Education & Youth Development College Access & Scholarships
Mission

MHEC brings together leaders from Midwestern states to develop and support best practices, collaborative efforts, and cost‑sharing opportunities that strengthen postsecondary education, advance student success, and promote regional economic vitality.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible
Claim this page Visit mhec.org

About Midwestern Higher Education Commission (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, MHEC)

The Midwestern Higher Education Commission (MHEC), established by interstate compact and headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, is a regional nonprofit that unites 11 Midwestern states to improve postsecondary education through research, policy analysis, cooperative purchasing, and multi‑state programs. MHEC is governed by a commission of state appointees and operates as the compacting body that implements the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. MHEC runs signature programs such as the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), administers the Midwestern State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (M‑SARA) for distance education, and negotiates cooperative contracts and student health solutions that generate measurable savings for students, institutions, and states. In recent years MHEC has produced applied research, convened regional summits, and awarded strategic grants to support system modernization and student access initiatives.

Notable achievements

Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) savings

MHEC’s MSEP provides multi‑state tuition reciprocity; in recent reporting years the program generated tens of millions in direct student tuition savings (roughly $29M+ in a recent year) and has delivered cumulative savings for students since the program’s inception.

Regional SARA administration (M‑SARA)

MHEC administers the Midwestern State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (M‑SARA), coordinating regional oversight of interstate distance‑education participation for participating states and hundreds of institutions in the MHEC region.

Cooperative contracting and state savings

Through cooperative technology, insurance, and purchasing contracts and other shared services, MHEC has produced substantial cost savings for member states and institutions (total annual savings across programs reported in recent annual reporting are in the tens of millions).

At a glance

Total assets
$18.2M
Annual revenue
$9.9M
Tax status
501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN
38-3011476
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Website
mhec.org
On Mahalo since
September 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Rated highly by independent charity evaluators (Charity Navigator shows a multi‑star rating and strong accountability/financial metrics).
Statutorily established interstate compact and recognized as the Midwestern compacting body in member state statutes and by regional higher‑education governance bodies.
Designated regional partner for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and listed by NC‑SARA as the Midwestern compact responsible for M‑SARA implementation.

Is this your organization?

Claim this page to keep it current — add your logo, publish campaigns, and reach the donors and advisors discovering you on Mahalo.

Claim this page