Filing a Complaint in Your State
We hope you never feel the need to seek outside assistance with any issue or complaint you have as a student or prospective student in one of the University of San Diego’s online degree programs. Our Student Success team works closely with our faculty members to provide a high level of personal and academic support to each student, and to treat each student with compassion in accordance with our core values. If you have a concern, we invite you to first seek resolution with your program coordinator and/or your program’s academic director. But we also want you to know that your state of residence has resources available to you should you not be able to resolve your concern directly with our team.
Every state has its own agency or department that regulates higher education, and students who are enrolled in an online degree program are required to work with the agency associated with their home state (or the state in which the student was located during the bulk of instruction). Please refer to the list below to find the higher education regulatory agency in your state.
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 below.
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
Consumer Complaint Contact Information by State
Alabama
Commission on Higher Education
Alabama Commission on Higher Education
PO Box 302000
Montgomery, AL 36130-2000
http://ache.edu/
Department of Postsecondary Education
Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education
PO Box 302130
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
https://www.accs.edu/about-accs/private-school-licensure/complaints/
Alaska
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
PO Box 110505
Juneau, AK 99811-0505
[email protected]
https://acpesecure.alaska.gov/
Arizona
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
1740 W. Adams, Suite 3008
Phoenix, AZ 85007
https://ppse.az.gov/resources/student-complaint
Arkansas
Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
423 Main Street, Suite 400
Little Rock, AR 72201
[email protected]
https://adhe.edu/students-parents/student-grievance-form
Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education
423 Main Street, Suite 400
Little Rock, AR 72201
[email protected]
https://adhe.edu/resources/faqs
California
California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education
Approved Institutions:
California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
PO Box 944255
W. Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
[email protected]
http://www.bppe.ca.gov/forms_pubs/complaint.pdf
Exempt Institutions:
Attorney General’s Office California Department of Justice
Attn: Public Inquiry Unit
PO Box 9044255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
http://ag.ca.gov/contact/complaint_form.php?cmplt=PL
Colorado
Colorado Department of Higher Education Commission on Higher Education
1600 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, Colorado 80202
https://cdhe.colorado.gov/complaint-procedures
Colorado Department of Higher Education Division of Private Occupational Schools
1560 Broadway, Suite 1600
Denver, Colorado 80202
https://cic.intellect.com/Intellect/Top.aspx?DetailsPage=
Connecticut
Connecticut Office of Higher Education
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 707
Hartford, CT 06103-1841
(860) 947-1800
[email protected]
Non-degree institutions: http://www.ctohe.org/studentcomplaints.shtml
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
165 Capitol Avenue, Room 110
Hartford CT 06106
[email protected]
Complaint Hotline: (800) 842-2649
http://www.ct.gov/dcp/lib/dcp/pdf/forms/consumer_statement_cpfr-2_frauds-11-17-14.pdf
Delaware
Delaware Higher Education Office
John G. Townsend Building, Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901
[email protected]
Delaware Attorney General
Consumer Protection Wilmington
820 N. French Street 5th floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
[email protected]
https://delaware.gov/
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Education Licensure Commission
810 First Street, NE, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20002
http://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/publication/attachments/DPC%20Part%20B%281%29%20FINAL.pdf
Florida
Florida Commission for Independent Education
325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
http://www.fldoe.org/policy/cie/file-a-complaint.stml
Georgia
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
2082 E. Exchange Pl. #220
Tucker, GA 30084-5334
Office: (770) 414-3300
https://gnpec.georgia.gov/
https://s3.amazonaws.com/edvera_production/public/organizations/gnpec/Internal+Procedures+Manual-+Authorized+School+Complaint+Procedure.pdf
Hawaii
Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)
PO Box 541
Honolulu, Hawaii 96809
[email protected]
http://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/student-complaint-process/
http://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/forms/student-forms/
Idaho
Idaho State Board of Education
Attn: State Coordinator for Private Colleges and Proprietary Schools
650 West State Street
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0037
https://boardofed.idaho.gov/higher-education-private/private-colleges-degree-granting/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara/complaint-procedures/
Illinois
Illinois Board of Higher Education
431 East Adams, 2nd Floor
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1404
[email protected]
Institutional Complaint Hotline: (217) 557-7359
http://complaints.ibhe.org
Indianna
Indiana Board for Proprietary Education
Attn: Director of Regulatory Compliance
302 W Washington Street, Room E201
Indianapolis, IN 46204
http://www.in.gov/che/2744.htm
Department of Workforce Development, Office of Career and Technical Schools
Complaint Adjudicator DWD/Office of Career and Technical Schools
10 N. Senate Avenue, Suite 203
Indianapolis, IN 46204
http://www.in.gov/dwd/files/StudenComplaintForm.pdf
Iowa
Iowa Student Aid Commission
450 E. Grand Ave., 3rd Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
[email protected]
https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/content/constituent-request-review
Kansas
Kansas Board of Regents
1000 SW Jackson Street
Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612-1368
http://www.kansasregents.org/resources/complaint_procedure_and_form_updated_August2015.pdf
Kentucky
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
1024 Capital Center Dr. #320
Frankfort, KY 40601-7512
[email protected]
Office of the Attorney General
Capitol Suite 118, 700 Capitol Avenue
Frankfort, KY 40601-3449
[email protected]
Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education
Capital Plaza Tower, Room 302
500 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40601-3319
http://kcpe.ky.gov/forms/formtofileacomplaint.pdf
Louisiana
Louisiana Attorney General Office, Consumer Protection Section
PO Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
[email protected]
(800) 351-4889, (225) 326-6465
http://www.ag.state.la.us/Article/10
Louisiana Board of Regents
Attn: Nancy Beall or Dr. Larry Trembly
PO Box 3677
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677
http://www.regents.la.gov/assets/docs/2013/03/Board-of-Regents-SARA-Student-Complaint-Process.pdf
Maine
Maine Department of Education
Deborah Friedman – Complaints
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
Maine Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
6 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
http://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml
Maryland
Our institution is subject to investigation of complaints by the Office of the Attorney General or the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Complaints should be directed to:
Maryland Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
200 St. Paul St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-528-8662/888/743/0823 (toll free)
Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 North Liberty Street, 10th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 767-3388
https://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/Pages/career/pcs/complaint.aspx
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108
https://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaintform.asp
Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure
Office of Private Occupational School Education
1000 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/docs/dpl/complaint.pdf
Michigan
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Commercial Services, Licensing Division
Proprietary School Unit Staff
201 N. Washington Sq.
Lansing, MI 48913
https://www.michigan.gov/som/
Minnesota
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1078
Mississippi
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/downloads/studentcomplaintform.pdf
Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 22947
Jackson, MS 39225-2947
http://www.ago.state.ms.us/index.php/contact
http://www.ago.state.ms.us/forms/complaint-form/
Mississippi Commission of Proprietary Schools and College Registration
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
http://www.sbcjc.cc.ms.us/pdfs/pg/PSComplaintForm.pdf
Missouri
Missouri Department of Higher Education
205 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
[email protected]
Policy: http://dhe.mo.gov/documents/POLICYONCOMPLAINTRESOLUTION-reviseddraft.pdf
Montana
Montana Board of Regents
Office of Commissioner of Higher Education
Montana University System
2500 Broadway Street
PO Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
Montana Office of Consumer Protection
2225 11th Avenue
PO Box 200151
Helena, MT 59620‐0151
[email protected]
https://mus.edu/MUS-Statement-of-Complaint-Process.asp
Montana Department of Justice Office of Consumer Protection
555 Fuller Avenue
P.O. Box 200151
Helena, Mt 59620-0501
(800) 481-6896
https://media.dojmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/100-Consumer-Complaint-Form.pdf
Nebraska
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
PO Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
Nebraska Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
2115 State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
https://ago.nebraska.gov/constituent-complaint-form
Consumer Protection Hotline: (800) 727-6432
Nebraska Department of Education, Private Postsecondary Career Schools
Investigations Office 301
Centennial Mall South
PO Box 98987
Lincoln, NE 68509‐4987
https://www.education.ne.gov/cc/complaint-form/online-complaint-form/
Nevada
Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
8778 S Maryland Parkway, Suite 115
Las Vegas, NV 89123
http://red.nv.gov/Content/Compliance/File_a_Complaint/
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Higher Education Commission
Patricia Edes
New Hampshire Department of Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271‐0257
[email protected]
Edward R. MacKay
New Hampshire Department of Education, Division Director
(603) 271-0256
[email protected]
https://my.doe.nh.gov/ESSWEB/HigherEducation/Complaint.aspx
New Hampshire HEC – Career School Licensing
Kimberly Kenneally
NH Department of Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271‐6443
[email protected]
New Jersey
Secretary of Higher Education
New Jersey Higher Education
PO Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625
[email protected]
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
124 Halsey Street
Newark, NJ 07102
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Pages/Consumer-Complaints.aspx
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Center for Occupational Employment Information Training Evaluation Unit
PO Box 057
Trenton, NJ 08625‐0057
https://www.nj.gov/labor/forms_pdfs/edtrain/Conflict%20Resolution%20Questionnaire.pdf
New Mexico
New Mexico Higher Education Department2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4 Santa Fe, NM 87505Phone: 505-476-8400Website: https://hed.state.nm.us/
New York
Office of College and University Evaluation
New York Office of College and University Evaluation
New York State Education Department
5 North Mezzanine
Albany, NY 12234
[email protected]
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/spr/COMPLAINTFORMINFO.html
New York Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
New York State Education Department
99 Washington Avenue, Room 1613 OCP
Albany, NY 12234
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/common/acces/files/bpss/complaintform.pdf
North Carolina
Board of Governors for the University of North Carolina
Postsecondary Education Complaints
c/o Assistant Director of Licensure and Workforce
University of North Carolina General Administration
910 Raleigh Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
(919) 962-4558
[email protected]
https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/
Community College System State Board of Proprietary Schools
200 West Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/complaint-procedures-and-forms
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education (if institution is “authorized)
State Capitol 15th Floor
600 E. Boulevard Ave. Dept. 270
Bismarck, ND 58505-0610
[email protected]
North Dakota Consumer Protection Division (if institution is “exempt” or not authorized)
Office of Attorney General
Parrell Grossman
Director, Consumer Protection Division
Gateway Professional Center
1050 E Interstate Ave. Suite 20
Bismarck, ND 58503‐5574
(701) 328‐5570
https://www.nd.gov/labor/wage-and-hour-topics/complaint-inquiry
Ohio
Ohio Board of Regents
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215-4183
Ohio Attorney General, Consumer Protection Section
30 E. Broad St., 14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3400
http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-A-Complaint.aspx
Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools
30 East Broad Street, Suite 2481
Columbus, OH 43215
http://scr.ohio.gov/ConsumerInformation/FilingaComplaint.aspx
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
http://www.okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints.shtml
Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Unit
Attn: Investigative Analyst
313 NE 21st Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
http://www.oag.ok.gov/civil-rights-enforcement-complaint-forms
http://www.oag.ok.gov/consumer-protection
Oklahoma State Board of Private Vocational Schools
3700 N.W. Classen Boulevard, Suite 250
Oklahoma City, OK 73118-2864
Oregon
Higher Education Coordinating Commission, Office of Degree Authorization
255 Capitol St. NE,
Salem, OR 97310
Student complaints Information: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/about/Pages/complaints.aspx
Oregon Attorney General Financial Fraud/Consumer Protection Section
1162 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-4096
http://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer/pdf/consumer_complaint.pdf
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Postsecondary-Adult/College%20and%20Career%20Education/Private%20Licensed%20Schools/Student%20Complaint%20Form.pdf
Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection
14th Floor, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/Complaints/Consumer_Complaint_Form/
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education
Shepard Building, 80 Washington Street
Providence, RI 02903
Rhode Island Department of Attorney General, Consumer Protection Unit
150 South Main Street
Providence, RI 02903
http://riag.ri.gov/home/ConsumerComplaintForm.pdf
http://www.ribghe.org/8a1031912.pdf
South Carolina
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
1122 Lady St., Suite 300
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 737-3918
http://www.che.sc.gov/CHE_Docs/AcademicAffairs/License/Complaint_procedures_and_form.pdf
South Dakota
South Dakota Secretary of State Jason M. Gant
State Capitol 500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
[email protected]
South Dakota Office of Attorney General, Division of Consumer Protection
1302 E Hwy 14, Suite 3
Pierre, SD 57501-8053
http://atg.sd.gov/Consumers/HandlingComplaints/ConsumerComplaintForm.aspx
Tennessee
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1900
Nashville, TN 37243
http://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/thec/attachments/ComplaintForm.pdf
Texas
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
1200 E. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
Contact information for filing student complaints with the THECB includes:
- THECB’s Student Complaints page with forms and a description of the complaint procedure: https://www.highered.texas.gov/links/student-complaints/
- Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code, Sections 1.110-1.120: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=19&pt=1&ch=1&sch=E&rl=Y
- Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 12548,
Austin, TX 78711-2548
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/file-complaint
Utah
Utah Division of Consumer Protection
160 East 300
South Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
[email protected]
https://consumerprotection.utah.gov/consumers/
Vermont
Vermont Agency of Education
120 State Street,
Montpelier, VT 05620-2501
http://education.vermont.gov/documents/EDU-Complaint_Resolution_Statement_for_Postsecondary_Education_Matters.pdf
Vermont Attorney General’s Office
109 State Street,
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001
Virginia
USD is currently seeking Institutional Certification in the State of Virginia. Once approved, USD will be certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Private Postsecondary Education
101 North 14th Street, 9th Floor
James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA 23219-3659
https://www.schev.edu/students/resources/student-complaints#:~:text=The%20student’s%20complaint%20must%20contain,and%20accuracy%20of%20the%20complaint.
Washington
Washington Student Achievement Council
917 Lakeridge Way
PO Box 43430
Olympia, WA 98504-3430
[email protected]
http://wsac.wa.gov/protecting-education-consumers
Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
128 10th Avenue SW
PO Box 43105
Olympia, WA 98504-3105
[email protected]
https://www.wtb.wa.gov/private-career-schools/school-complaints/(instructions)
West Virginia
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
1018 Kanawha Blvd E., Ste 700
Charleston, WV 25301-2800
West Virginia Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
PO Box 1789
Charleston, WV 25326-1789
http://www.wvhepc.edu/
Community and Technical College System of West Virginia
1018 Kanawha Blvd. E., Ste. 700
Charleston, WV 25301
West Virginia Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
PO Box 1789
Charleston, WV 25326-1789
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Educational Approval Board
201 W. Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor
PO Box 8696,
Madison, WI 53708
[email protected]
https://dsps.wi.gov/pages/programs/educationalapproval/default.aspx
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Education
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Building, 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0050
https://edu.wyoming.gov/downloads/schools/student-complaint-process.pdf
Attorney General’s Office
123 Capitol Building
200 W. 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education
PO Box 1900
San Juan, PR 00910-1900
Puerto Rico Department of Justice
PO Box 9020192
San Juan, PR 00902‐0192
Guam
N/A
Virgin Islands
Government of the United States Virgin Islands
Department of Education
Office of the Commissioner
1834 Kongens Gade
St. Thomas, V.I. 00802