The purpose of accreditation is to recognize that an institution of learning is meeting and maintaining certain requisites in order for their graduates to be considered "graduates". Every school has to be accredited every ten years in order for that school to be considered reputable. West Virginia colleges and universities, including Glenville State, are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association. The commission sends a team to visit a school, writes a report voicing their opinion about the state of the school, and that report is sent to a national review panel which has the final opinion.

On April 15 and 16, 2013, Glenville State College went through the renewal of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The committee talked to all faculty, staff, and students during this time. According to Dr. John Peek, Glenville State College provost, the review that the committee wrote was passed by the panel with no changes. This means that Glenville State College is accredited for ten more years.

Dr. Peek also stated that the team was complimentary to the faculty and staff about how open to sharing information they were, and how they made students their number one priority. The team also complimented the innovations and changes that have happened to the school, such as the academic services and the public outreach.