State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
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 Columbia - Florida - Georgia - Guam - 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 Dakota - Northern 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).
Alaska
Licensing Agency
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Alaska under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
American Samoa
Licensing Agency
American Samoa currently does not require registration for out-of-state public postsecondary institutions such as Penn State World Campus.
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).
Arkansas
Licensing Agency
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Arkansas under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
California
The State of California currently does not require registration for out-of-state public postsecondary institutions such as Penn State World Campus.
Colorado
Licensing Agency
Colorado Department of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Colorado under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Connecticut
Licensing Agency
The (Connecticut) Office of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Connecticut under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Delaware
Licensing Agency
Delaware Department of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Delaware under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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).
Florida
Licensing Agency
Florida Department of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Florida under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Georgia
Licensing Agency
(Georgia) Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Penn State is approved to operate in Georgia under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Guam
Licensing Agency
Guam currently does not require registration for out-of-state public postsecondary institutions such as Penn State World Campus.
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).
Idaho
Licensing Agency
Idaho State Board of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Idaho under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Illinois
Licensing Agency
Illinois Board of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Illinois under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Indiana
Licensing Agency
Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE)
Penn State is approved to operate in Indiana under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Iowa
Licensing Agency
Iowa State Board of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Iowa under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Kansas
Licensing Agency
Kansas Board of Regents
Penn State is approved to operate in Kansas under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Kentucky
Licensing Agency
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Kentucky under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Louisiana
Licensing Agency
Louisiana Board of Regents
Penn State is approved to operate in Louisiana under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Maine
Licensing Agency
Maine Department of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Maine under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Maryland
Licensing Agency
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Penn State is approved to operate in Maryland under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Massachusetts
Licensing Agency
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE)
Penn State is approved to operate in Massachusetts under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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).
Minnesota
Licensing Agency
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Minnesota under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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).
Missouri
Licensing Agency
Missouri Department of Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Missouri under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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).
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).
Nevada
Licensing Agency
Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Nevada under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
North Dakota
Licensing Agency
North Dakota University System
Penn State is approved to operate in North Dakota under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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.
Ohio
Licensing Agency
The Ohio Board of Regents
Penn State is approved to operate in Ohio under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Oklahoma
Licensing Agency
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Oklahoma under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Oregon
Licensing Agency
Office of Degree Authorization
Penn State is approved to operate in Oregon under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Pennsylvania
Licensing Agency
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Penn State is able to operate in its home state of Pennsylvania.
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
Texas
Licensing Agency
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Penn State is approved to operate in Texas under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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).
Utah
Licensing Agency
Utah Division of Consumer Protection
Penn State is approved to operate in Utah under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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).
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).
Washington
Licensing Agency
Washington Student Achievement Council
Penn State is approved to operate in Washington under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
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).
Wisconsin
Licensing Agency
Wisconsin Educational Approval Board
Penn State is approved to operate in Wisconsin under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Wyoming
Licensing Agency
Wyoming Department of Education
Penn State is approved to operate in Wyoming under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).