By 1994, the student population had risen to more than sixty, and the college had grown to a campus of four buildings. In that year, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) granted the College of Saint Thomas More accreditation for the associate degree. In addition to its long-running visiting lecturer series (the "Cardinal Newman Lecture"), the college also started to offer seminars for local community leaders. In 1995, co-founder Ronald Muller left for a position at St. Mary's College in Orchard Lake, while James Patrick remained as provost. In 1999, SACS granted the college accreditation for the bachelor's degree.