State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

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The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories in the United States, which establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to simplify the process of taking online courses for credit offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a national council (NC-SARA) and administered by four regional education compacts.

Penn State has been approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to participate in NC-SARA and was accepted as a SARA institution on January 25, 2017; additionally, Penn State commenced their affiliation with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) on January 1, 2017. At this time, 49 of the 50 United States are SARA members, however, Penn State is individually approved to offer programs in California.

Approval agencies for state authorization in each state and territory can be found in the following list.

Alabama - Alaska - American Samoa - Arizona - Arkansas - California - Colorado - Connecticut - Delaware - District of ColumbiaFlorida - GeorgiaGuam - Hawaii - Idaho - Illinois - Indiana - Iowa - Kansas - Kentucky - Louisiana - Maine - Maryland - Massachusetts - Michigan - Minnesota - Mississippi - Missouri - Montana - Nebraska - Nevada - New Hampshire - New Jersey - New Mexico - New York - North Carolina - North DakotaNorthern Mariana Islands - Ohio - Oklahoma - Oregon - Pennsylvania - Puerto Rico - Rhode Island - South Carolina - South Dakota - Tennessee - Texas - U.S. Virgin Islands - Utah - Vermont - Virginia - Washington - West Virginia - Wisconsin - Wyoming

Alabama

Licensing Agency

Alabama Commission on Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Alabama under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Alaska

Licensing Agency

Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Alaska under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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American Samoa

Licensing Agency

American Samoa currently does not require registration for out-of-state public postsecondary institutions such as Penn State World Campus.

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Arizona

Licensing Agency

Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Arizona under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Arkansas

Licensing Agency

Arkansas Department of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Arkansas under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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California

The State of California currently does not require registration for out-of-state public postsecondary institutions such as Penn State World Campus. 

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Colorado

Licensing Agency

Colorado Department of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Colorado under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Connecticut

Licensing Agency

The (Connecticut) Office of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Connecticut under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Delaware

Licensing Agency

Delaware Department of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Delaware under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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District of Columbia

Licensing Agency

(District of Columbia) Education Licensure Commission
Penn State is approved to operate in the District of Columbia under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Florida

Licensing Agency

Florida Department of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Florida under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Georgia

Licensing Agency

(Georgia) Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Penn State is approved to operate in Georgia under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Guam

Licensing Agency

Guam currently does not require registration for out-of-state public postsecondary institutions such as Penn State World Campus.

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Hawaii

Licensing Agency

Hawaii Post-secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)
Penn State is approved to operate in Hawaii under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Idaho

Licensing Agency

Idaho State Board of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Idaho under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Illinois

Licensing Agency

Illinois Board of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Illinois under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Indiana

Licensing Agency

Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE)
Penn State is approved to operate in Indiana under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Iowa

Licensing Agency

Iowa State Board of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Iowa under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Kansas

Licensing Agency

Kansas Board of Regents
Penn State is approved to operate in Kansas under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Kentucky

Licensing Agency

Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Kentucky under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Louisiana

Licensing Agency

Louisiana Board of Regents
Penn State is approved to operate in Louisiana under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Maine

Licensing Agency

Maine Department of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Maine under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Maryland

Licensing Agency

Maryland Higher Education Commission
Penn State is approved to operate in Maryland under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Massachusetts

Licensing Agency

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE)
Penn State is approved to operate in Massachusetts under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Michigan

Licensing Agency

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Penn State is approved to operate in Michigan under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Minnesota

Licensing Agency

Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Minnesota under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Mississippi

Licensing Agency

Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration (CPSCR)
Penn State is approved to operate in Mississippi under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Missouri

Licensing Agency

Missouri Department of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Missouri under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Montana

Licensing Agency

Montana University System Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Montana under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Nebraska

Licensing Agency

Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Nebraska under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Nevada

Licensing Agency

Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Nevada under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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New Hampshire

Licensing Agency

New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission
Penn State is approved to operate in New Hampshire under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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New Jersey

Licensing Agency

New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Commission on Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in New Jersey under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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New Mexico

Licensing Agency

New Mexico Higher Education Department
Penn State is approved to operate in New Mexico under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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New York

Licensing Agency

New York Office of College and University Evaluation
Penn State is approved to operate in New York under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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North Carolina

Licensing Agency

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors
Penn State is approved to operate in North Carolina under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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North Dakota

Licensing Agency

North Dakota University System
Penn State is approved to operate in North Dakota under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Northern Mariana Islands

Licensing Agency

Northern Mariana Islands currently does not require registration for out-of-state public postsecondary institutions such as Penn State World Campus.

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Ohio

Licensing Agency

The Ohio Board of Regents
Penn State is approved to operate in Ohio under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Oklahoma

Licensing Agency

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Oklahoma under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Oregon

Licensing Agency

Office of Degree Authorization
Penn State is approved to operate in Oregon under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Pennsylvania

Licensing Agency

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Penn State is able to operate in its home state of Pennsylvania.

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Puerto Rico

Licensing Agency

Consejo de Educacion de Puerto Rico
Penn State is able to operate in Puerto Rico under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Rhode Island

Licensing Agency

Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner
Penn State is approved to operate in Rhode Island under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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South Carolina

Licensing Agency

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in South Carolina under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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South Dakota

Licensing Agency

South Dakota Secretary of State's Office
Penn State is approved to operate in South Dakota under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Tennessee

Licensing Agency

Tennessee Higher Education Commission Division of Postsecondary State Authorization (DPSA)
Penn State is approved to operate in Tennessee under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Texas

Licensing Agency

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Penn State is approved to operate in Texas under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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U.S. Virgin Islands

Licensing Agency

Penn State is approved to operate in the U.S. Virgin Islands under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Utah

Licensing Agency

Utah Division of Consumer Protection
Penn State is approved to operate in Utah under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Vermont

Licensing Agency

Vermont State Board of Education Through the Vermont Agency of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Vermont under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Virginia

Licensing Agency

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Penn State is approved to operate in Virginia under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Washington

Licensing Agency

Washington Student Achievement Council
Penn State is approved to operate in Washington under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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West Virginia

Licensing Agency

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
Penn State is approved to operate in West Virginia under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Wisconsin

Licensing Agency

Wisconsin Educational Approval Board
Penn State is approved to operate in Wisconsin under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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Wyoming

Licensing Agency

Wyoming Department of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Wyoming under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

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