State authorization

What is state authorization?

SARA logo

States require that institutions be authorized to deliver university-level distance and online education to their residents.

The University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri University of Science and Technology and the University of Missouri-St. Louis have been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).

NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education, aimed at making the effort to obtain state authorizations more efficient for institutions and increasing student access to distance education courses and programs.

Institutions participating in NC-SARA are able to offer educational opportunities in all 49 NC-SARA member states, as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education does not regulate out-of-state public institutions. Therefore, no action is required and the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri University of Science & Technology and the University of Missouri-St. Louis are in compliance with California regulations.

For contact information for each state portal entity, please visit our consumer protection information page.

For more information about the SARA initiative and progress of state and institutional membership, please visit www.nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions

Please note: If a student's residency changes during their enrollment in an online program, the student may NOT be able to continue the program, depending on the requirements of the new state of residence. Please contact the State Authorization Coordinator for more information.

Select a state

Contact

MoKanSAN logo

The Missouri Kansas State Authorization Network (MoKanSAN) provides collaborative opportunities for higher education institutions.

Learn more about MoKanSAN and how you can get involved.