51在线

State Authorization

Accreditation and State Authorization

The 51在线 is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of the University of South 51在线 may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC鈥檚 website ().

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative to provide more access to online courses while maintaining compliance standards with state regulatory agencies. SARA allows institutions to provide online courses outside of their own state borders by seeking and maintaining state approvals via a streamlined process. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of post secondary distance education. To learn more about SARA, please visit

51在线 joined SARA through the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) compact. The 51在线 is an approved member of NC-SARA which is recognized by 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Students Located Outside the United States

Given the nature of our online programs, it's possible some students are located internationally as they participate as USF students. The reciprocity agreements made possible by our participation in SARA do not extend to countries outside the United States. The applicability of USF online programs to citizens of other countries, therefore, will be different in every case, and students are urged to ascertain for themselves if the USF online program they are taking will meet the educational requirements to sit for licensure in the international destination they are interested in.

All U.S. citizens (including military and government officials) located outside the United States who plan to return to the United States for licensure examinations should consult the licensure information for the state in which they intend to practice.

Student Complaints

Any student located in a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) state and has a complaint, pursuant to Section 4.4 of the SARA Manual, must complete the internal institutional and applicable state grievance procedures prior to appealing the complaint to the Council. Students who are enrolled in a USF course who have a complaint about a course or experience should follow the University's Student Grievance Process and .

If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process and applicable state grievance procedures, the complaint may then be brought to the SARA portal agency in the institution's home state. SARA Portal Complaint page: .

Professional Licensure

Important Licensure Information for Students:

If you are considering enrolling in an online academic program that leads to a professional license, it is highly recommended that you contact the relevant licensing agency in the state where you plan to reside before beginning your academic program. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) does not provide reciprocity for state professional licensing requirements. Both academic programs and individual graduates must meet the specific standards set by the state's licensure requirements for a graduate to be eligible for a license. Please visit our professional licensure page to check if the 51在线 (USF) meets the requirements in the state where you intend to practice.

For additional information regarding state licensing boards, please refer our State Licensure Contact Directory.