How to start a Degree Granting University

While states differ in the complexity and length of their licensing approval process, they all have "more or less" similar requirements:

- Solid Curricula

- Sound Faculty

- Well formulated policies and procedures

- Supporting Student Services in place

- Sound academic offerings

Here is a list of the State Licensing agencies and State Approved Schools. If you need help deciding, I have a checklist that we can go through together to make a decision.

Please note that some of the external links provided below are only accessible if you're located in the United States.
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Alabama

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) is the co-ordinating board for higher education in the State of Alabama.

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Alaska

A complete list of schools authorized to operate or exempt from authorization in Alaska is provided by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE).

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Arizona

The Arizona College and Career Guide published by the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education provides information about Arizona’s universities, colleges, and career schools.

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Arkansas

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education’s list of four-year public universities, two-year public colleges, and independent colleges and universities located in the State of Arkansas.

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The Guide to Colleges and Universities is provided by the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU). The Guide helps counselors, students, and families learn about higher education options offered by the state's private non-profit colleges and universities.

Search the Database to California Colleges and Universities.
It contains detailed information about 145 public colleges and universities, 128 WASC-accredited non-public institutions and 253 state-approved or exempt private postsecondary and vocational institutions.
Search the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education approved schools.
This information is provided by the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).

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Colorado

Maintained by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, this site lists 4-year public, 2-year public and authorized non-public institutions approved by the State of Colorado.

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Connecticut

This student and parent website, developed by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education, includes links to approved Connecticut colleges and universities and private occupational schools.

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Delaware

The Delaware Higher Education Commission provides contact information for state-approved colleges and universities.

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Florida

The Board of Governors State University System of Florida provides information about independent and state institutions, Florida law schools and university distance learning links.

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Georgia

The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), the agency responsible for administering student financial aid programs provided by the State of Georgia, lists in-depth information about Georgia colleges, universities and technical colleges.

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Hawaii

The website of the Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP), provides a list of schools authorized to operate in Hawaii.

Unaccredited Degree Granting Institutions
This State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs site includes an explanation of state regulations regarding unaccredited degree-granting institutions. The site also includes a list of institutions that have been sued by the State of Hawaii.

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Idaho

This site, maintained by the State of Idaho, lists Idaho state colleges and universities and private colleges and universities.

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Illinois

The Illinois Board of Higher Education provides links to public universities, independent colleges and universities and community colleges, as well as consumer information about state approval, accreditation, and licensure.

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Indiana

The Indiana Commission on Higher Education maintains this site entitled "The Learn More Resource Center." It allows users to access specific details on over 80 Indiana colleges and universities.

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Iowa

The Iowa College Student Aid Commission provides information on Iowa state universities, independent colleges and universities, community colleges, and professional business and technical colleges and universities.

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Kansas

This site provides a list of Kansas universities, community colleges, technical schools and colleges, private and out-of-state degrees, and programs governed or supervised by the Kansas Board of Regents.

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Kentucky

The State of Kentucky, Council on Postsecondary Education provides multiple resources for higher education, including listings of state colleges and universities, independent colleges and universities, and community college, trade and technical schools.

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Louisiana

The Louisiana Board of Regents provides lists of the Louisiana state university system, community and technical colleges and private institutions.

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Maine

The Department of Education for the State of Maine provides lists of Maine public colleges and universities, state training academies, community college systems and private colleges.

Maine Legislature: An Act to Prohibit and Provide Penalties for the Issuance, Manufacture and Use of False Academic Degrees or Certificates
L.D. 1317 was passed and signed into Public Law Chapter 429 by the 122nd Maine Legislature on June 23, 2005. A summary of the bill and an amendment thereto may be found using the above link to the Maine Legislature website.

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Maryland

The Maryland Higher Education Commission website lists four-year public colleges and universities, community colleges, four-year independent colleges and universities, two-year independent colleges and universities and distance education and academic programs by school.

The Importance of Accreditation
The Maryland Higher Education System provides the importance of accreditation.

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Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education provides links to Massachusetts state colleges and universities, independent colleges and universities and community colleges.

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Michigan

The State of Michigan provides lists of Michigan career and technical institutes, two-year colleges, four-year colleges and universities and community colleges.

Michigan Legislature: Authentic Credentials in Education Act
Senate Bill 136 was passed into law by the 93rd Michigan Legislature on July 22, 2005. This bill prohibits the issuance or manufacture of a false academic credential. It also prohibits an individual from knowingly using a false academic degree.
Non-Accredited Schools and Unapproved Accrediting Bodies
List of non-accredited schools and unapproved accrediting bodies by the State of Michigan.

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Minnesota

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education provides information about institutions or campuses licensed by the State of Minnesota, Minnesota state colleges and universities and the University of Minnesota.

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Mississippi

The Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation provides a listing of all approved colleges and universities in the State of Mississippi. It also includes a listing of non-approved colleges and universities.

Non-Approved Entities
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation provides a list of non-approved entities.

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Missouri

The Missouri Department of Higher Education provides an institution and degree search engine as well as a complete list of institutions approved in the State of Missouri.

Montana

The Montana University System, Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, maintains a list of the University of Montana campuses, Montana State University campuses, community and tribal colleges and private institutions.

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Nebraska

The Nebraska Co-ordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education provides links to lists of approved community colleges, independent colleges and universities, private career schools and state colleges.

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Nevada

The Nevada System of Higher Education provides links to approved public institutions in the State of Nevada.

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New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Division of Educator Support and Higher Education, provides a list of degree-granting institutions approved to operate in New Hampshire, as well as a directory of approved career schools.

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New Jersey

The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education provides links to public research universities, state colleges and universities, community colleges, two-year religious schools, independent four-year colleges, proprietary institutions with degree-granting authority and rabbinical schools and theological seminaries.

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New Mexico

The New Mexico Higher Education Department provides links to postsecondary schools.

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New York

The New York State Education Department Office of Higher Education, Office of Quality Assurance, provides a Directory of all Colleges and Universities in the State of New York.

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North Carolina

The State of North Carolina provides multiple links to the University of North Carolina System, independent colleges and universities and community colleges.

Guide to North Carolina Higher Education websites
The University of North Carolina provides a guide to North Carolina higher education websites.

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North Dakota

The State of North Dakota provides links to lists of state colleges and universities, private colleges, tribal colleges and vocational/technical schools.

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Ohio

The Ohio Department of Higher Education provides links to all four-year public colleges and universities, two-year public university branch campuses, two-year public community and technical colleges and independent colleges and universities approved in the State of Ohio. This site also includes a link to the Program Authorization Log - a list of college institutions and programs authorized to operate in Ohio.

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Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education provides links to approved colleges, universities and career training institutions.

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Oregon

The Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) provides links to the Oregon University System, independent colleges, community colleges and other ODA-approved campus-based degree programs.

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Pennsylvania

Maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, this institution and program search includes programs at the College of Technology, community colleges, other approved schools, other colleges and universities, other postsecondary schools, private colleges and universities, private licensed schools, private two-year colleges, state-aided institutes, state-related commonwealth universities and state universities.

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education lists institutions and organizations, including Rhode Island public higher education, independent colleges and universities and proprietary schools regulated by the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education

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South Carolina

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education lists public senior institutions, two-year regional campuses for the University of South Carolina, technical colleges, private senior institutions, private two-year colleges, proprietary colleges, and other degree-granting institutions licensed to operate by the Commission on Higher Education in the State of South Carolina.

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South Dakota

The South Dakota Board of Regents maintains a list of postsecondary technical institutes, state universities, tribal colleges and universities and private colleges and universities.

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Tennessee

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission and Student Assistance Corporation maintains a directory of Tennessee public universities, independent colleges and universities, community colleges and Tennessee Technology Centers.

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Texas

The Texas Higher Education Co-ordinating Board maintains lists of public universities, community colleges, health-related institutions, the technical college system and state colleges as well as independent universities, junior colleges, health-related institutions and chiropractic institutions.

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Utah

The Utah System of Higher Education provides links to Utah public and private colleges and universities. The website also links to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection that includes links to registered proprietary schools exempt from registration.

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