How to start a Degree Granting University
This involves helping our clients understand all the legal and financial requirements around university establishment, as well as providing marketing and branding advice to ensure their university or college stands out from other educational institutions.
Our competitors can only offer a limited service, either licensing or accreditation, as most don't have the skills or team required to provide a turnkey service. This is why EEC stands out from the crowd – we can offer our clients everything they need to get their university off the ground easily and efficiently.
At EEC we're looking at building a long-term relationship with our clients, where launching a university is only the first step.
We are confident that no other company can match our team of experts and their specialized knowledge.
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.
Alabama
The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) is the co-ordinating board for higher education in the State of Alabama.
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).
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.
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.
California
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).
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.
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.
Delaware
The Delaware Higher Education Commission provides contact information for state-approved colleges and universities.
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.
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.
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.
Idaho
This site, maintained by the State of Idaho, lists Idaho state colleges and universities and private colleges and universities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Louisiana
The Louisiana Board of Regents provides lists of the Louisiana state university system, community and technical colleges and private institutions.
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.
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.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education provides links to Massachusetts state colleges and universities, independent colleges and universities and community colleges.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nevada
The Nevada System of Higher Education provides links to approved public institutions in the State of Nevada.
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.
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.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Higher Education Department provides links to postsecondary schools.
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.
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.
North Dakota
The State of North Dakota provides links to lists of state colleges and universities, private colleges, tribal colleges and vocational/technical schools.
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.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education provides links to approved colleges, universities and career training institutions.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Vermont
The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation provides a list of Vermont Education links, including colleges, universities and professional schools.
Virginia
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia provides links to public institutions, private vocational institutions licensed to operate in the State of Virginia and some private and out of state institutions.
Washington
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) provides links to public four-year colleges and universities, public community and technical colleges, tribally-controlled community colleges and private and out-of-state colleges and universities.
West Virginia
This site provides links to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission public colleges and universities, community colleges and technical institutions. It also provides links to West Virginia private colleges and universities.
Wisconsin
The State of Wisconsin website provides links to the University of Wisconsin System and state colleges, technical colleges, private colleges and universities and private postsecondary schools.
Wyoming
The State of Wyoming provides links to Wyoming colleges and universities and technical schools.
