State Authorization Status & Compliance

State authorization is a regulation of the Department of Education that requires institutions offering distance education courses to be authorized by each state in which the institution enrolls students (if such authorization is required by the state). Each state has a different set of requirements when it comes to allowing out-of-state colleges and universities to offer online degree programs to its residents. While the University of San Diego would like to make our online programs available to all students across the country, some states have enacted regulations that make it prohibitive for us to do so.

University of San Diego is currently authorized to enroll students from every U.S. state except the following:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • District of Columbia
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • Rhode Island
  • Wisconsin

Franciscan School of Theology at USD is currently authorized to enroll students from every U.S. state except the following:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • New Hampshire
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • Wyoming

We continually make a good-faith effort to ensure we have appropriate authorization from every state in which we enroll students and to seek authorization from those states in which we are currently restricted from enrolling students.

State authorization refers to the state in which a student is located when receiving the bulk of instruction.


Notice To Students Who Relocate

If, while enrolled in an online degree program with the University of San Diego, you relocate to a state in which we have no authorization, you may lose eligibility to remain enrolled in your course of study. Please speak with your program coordinator if you anticipate relocating while you are completing your degree. Prospective students who have not yet enrolled should consider this regulation prior to applying, especially if there is a possibility of relocating to a restricted state prior to degree completion.


Complaints

We are also required to provide all prospective and current students with the contact information for the state agency, or agencies, that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering online (distance) learning within that state. While we always hope that you will first seek to resolve your concerns with us directly, if you also wish to file a complaint in your home state, you can find the contact information for your state’s agency on our Filing a Complaint in Your State page.


State of California Complaint Procedure

An individual may contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for review of a complaint. The bureau also may be contacted at P.O. Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818, (916) 574-8900 or (888) 370-7589 (phone), (916) 263-1897 (fax).

University Accreditor WSCUC – WASC Senior College and University Commission

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