State Authorization - About the State System of Higher Education - Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

State Authorization in Oklahoma

Consistent with statutory requirements (70 O.S. § 4103) and the Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC 610:10 (Academic Affairs), 1 through 6) , OSRHE policy requires:

Authorization and annual re-authorization to offer degree programs in Oklahoma by any modality, including online-only distance education from non-SARA participating, out-of-state institutions.
Annual authorization fees for all institutions.
Annual payments into a student tuition recovery fund for private institutions.

Additionally, consistent with 70 O.S. § 4104 , OSRHE policy provides guidance for religious degree-granting institutions’ exemption from Oklahoma statutory accreditation and authorization requirements.

Eligibility to Apply for Authorization

To be eligible to apply for authorization in Oklahoma, a degree-granting institution must:

Be institutionally accredited by an agency recognized by the secretary of the USDE as a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered by institutions of higher education for the purposes of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The accreditor of institutions that offer distance education in Oklahoma must be recognized by the USDE as an accreditor of distance education.

There is no process by which an unaccredited institution can achieve accreditation while operating as a degree-granting institution in Oklahoma. Institutions that are not fully accredited as described above are not eligible to apply for authorization.

Be licensed, approved, authorized or otherwise recognized to legally offer degree-related instruction by the federally recognized authorization entity in its home state or applicable federal or tribal approval, authorization, or licensing entity, or officially exempted from such licensure, approval, or authorization by its home state or federal law.

An institution that does not fulfill these requirements is not eligible for authorization, and an application will not be accepted.

Initial Authorization

Annual Re-Authorization

Out-of-State Institutions Offering Distance Education in Oklahoma

Authorization is required for out-of-state, non-SARA, degree-granting institutions to offer degree programs or degree-related instruction by distance education in Oklahoma.

Prior to 2025, no authorization was required for out-of-state institutions to offer distance education degree programs in Oklahoma; however, pre-2025 authorization is no longer in effect and institutions offering distance education in Oklahoma that have not obtained authorization in or after 2025 are not authorized to offer degree programs in Oklahoma. Such institutions must immediately either apply for authorization in Oklahoma or discontinue all degree-granting activity in Oklahoma.

Apply for Authorization

Discontinue Degree-Granting Activity

Institutions with currently enrolled students that wish to discontinue degree-granting activity in Oklahoma may request limited authorization to teach out currently enrolled students to the completion of their degree program.

To notify the OSRHE of the intent to discontinue degree granting activity in Oklahoma and request the limited authorization, complete and submit the Discontinue Distance Education Form. Institutions that do not submit the form are not authorized.

To request the form, email Elizabeth Walker at lwalker@osrhe.edu.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements

The only approved state authorization reciprocity agreement in Oklahoma is the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA-participating institutions do not require additional authorization for activities conducted in Oklahoma that are within the scope of the SARA Policy Manual .

SARA-participating institutions that wish to conduct activities in Oklahoma outside the scope of the SARA Policy Manual contact, Elizabeth Walker, lwalker@osrhe.edu to learn if the activity requires authorization.

Religious Degree-Granting Institutions

Exemption From Authorization and Accreditation

A private degree-granting institution that meets the requirements of 70 O.S. § 4104 (B)(1) and (2) is exempt from Oklahoma’s statutory requirements for degree-granting institutions to be authorized by the OSRHE and accredited by an accreditor recognized by the secretary of the U.S.D.E. (70 O.S. § 4104 (A) and 70 O.S. § 4103 (B)).

To qualify for the exemption, an institution must meet the following criteria:

The institution’s primary purpose is to provide religious training or theological education.
The institution is exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3).
The institution offers in Oklahoma only degrees that are designed to prepare a graduate for a role in a religious organization, including religious education institutions (religious degree).
The institution’s degree titles offered under this exemption include a religious modifier on the degree diploma, the student’s transcript, and wherever the degree title appears in official school documents and publications.

An institution that meets these criteria does not need to apply or be approved for the exemption; it automatically applies.

Request to Be Listed on This Website

An institution that meets these criteria and operates in Oklahoma may request to be listed as a religious degree-granting institution on this website by completing and submitting a Request to be Listed as a Religious Degree-Granting Institution Form. To request the form, email Elizabeth Walker at lwalker@osrhe.edu. No fees or payments are charged to submit this form or be listed on this website.

Submission of the form is not required for an institution that qualifies for the exemption; the exemption automatically applies to all qualifying institutions. Choosing to be listed or not to be listed is completely voluntary and has no effect on the institution’s exempt status. Additionally, to request listing on the OSRHE website does not constitute an application for authorization and OSRHE listing the institution on the OSRHE website does not constitute approval of authorization.

The list is provided for information only and only institutions that qualify for this exemption and make the request are listed. An exempt institution can operate in Oklahoma under the exemption without being listed; therefore, many such institutions may be operating legally in Oklahoma that are not listed.

Military Installations

Military-Connected Students Temporarily Stationed in Oklahoma

Offering Degree Programs on Military Installations in Oklahoma

Supervised Field Experiences

Supervised Field Experiences Do Not Require Authorization

Supervised Field Experiences Do Require Reporting

Other Activities That Do Not Require Authorization

General Activities

Out-of-state, degree-granting institutions may conduct, or send students to, the following activities in Oklahoma without prior authorization:

Multi-night field trips
Sports games or events
Social gatherings of students or alumni
Students participating in professional or student organization conferences or similar events
Individual tutoring or other non-credit bearing academic support service
Participation in college fairs or other assembly of institutions in Oklahoma for the sole purpose of marketing the institution to prospective students. However, any activity consisting of, related to, or supporting taking payment, signing a contract or agreement with, or enrolling an Oklahoma student at a college fair in Oklahoma constitutes offering a degree program in Oklahoma and requires authorization.

Religious Education Activities

Additionally, accredited, degree-granting institutions that do not qualify for the exemption conferred by 70 O.S. § 4104 (B)(1) and (2) (see Religious Degree-Granting Institutions above) may still qualify for an exemption from state authorization under OSRHE policy section 3.1.3.F if they conduct in Oklahoma only one or more of the religious education activities listed below.

Offers religious degrees which are used solely for religious purposes within a religious organization.
Offers non-degree educational activities that feature religious instruction conducted by an accredited, degree-granting institution.
Offers religious degrees or religious education through, in partnership with, or in support of a religious degree offered by an Oklahoma religious institution.
Offers religious degrees or religious degree-related instruction through concurrent enrollment by a degree-granting institution that is conducted in an Oklahoma primary or secondary educational institution.

An institution that conducts any of the above activities and also offers non-religious or secular degree programs in Oklahoma is not eligible for this exemption, and must be authorized as required by 70 O.S. §4103 (B) and OSRHE policy 3.1 Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization, including required payment of all applicable fees and payments, to offer its non-religious or secular degree programs in Oklahoma.

Should an institution that currently qualifies for this exemption decide to start offering non-religious or secular degree programs or degree-related instruction, it must become authorized as required by 70 O.S. §4103 (B) and OSRHE policy 3.1 Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization, including required payment of all applicable fees and payments, to do so.

To determine its exemption from authorization through OSRHE policy section 3.1.3.F, and/or request to be listed on this website as an accredited degree-granting institution offering religious degrees or conducting religious education in Oklahoma, an institution should complete and submit an Activities Exempt from Authorization Form.

To request an Activities Exempt from Authorization Form, email Elizabeth Walker, lwalker@osrhe.edu. No fees or payments are charged for an institution to submit the form, or to institutions that qualify for this exemption and operate in Oklahoma under it.

Authorization Fees

Annual fees are charged to all institutions that apply and are approved for authorization in Oklahoma.

Application Fee

Authorization Fee

Location Fee

Student Tuition Recovery Fund Payments

All private institutions approved for authorization to operate in Oklahoma are required to submit payments for a student tuition recovery fund. This payment is in addition to the application, authorization, and location fees.

Initial Authorization

Re-Authorization

Non-Degree-Granting Institutions

In-state and out-of-state private, postsecondary institutions that do not grant degrees are subject to the requirements of the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools (OBPVS) (70 O.S. § 4103 (D)) .

Such institutions that offer both non-degree education and one or more degree programs must be licensed by the OBPVS for their non-degree activity and authorized by the OSRHE for their degree program(s). The institution must meet the eligibility requirements to apply for authorization to offer a degree program in Oklahoma and will be charged the full cost of authorization and payment into the student tuition recovery fund.

Related Statutes, Rules and Policy

Oklahoma state law: 70 O.S. § 4103 and 70 O.S. § 4104
Oklahoma Administrative Code: OAC 610:10 (Academic Affairs), 1 through 6
OSRHE policy: 1, Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization (PDF, 160k)
Federal regulations: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Subtitle B, Chapter VI, Part 600 (34 CFR 600)

In the event of any conflict between the information presented on this page and any state or federal law or regulations or OSRHE policy, the law/regulation/policy will control. This list is non-inclusive.

Procedures for Authorization

To apply for authorization or re-authorization to operate in Oklahoma, an institution must meet the eligibility requirement and submit a complete authorization application, the application fee, and required accompanying materials. An application that is submitted without all required information and materials or the required application fee is incomplete. An incomplete application is not in compliance with OSRHE policy.

Institutions will be provided official written notification of all OSRHE staff determinations and State Regents’ actions regarding the institution’s authorization status.

By submitting a signed application to the OSRHE, the institution agrees to abide by all requirements and stipulations in OSRHE policy and in the application. Applications from institutions that are not eligible for authorization will not be accepted.

A. Procedures

1. Complete and Submit Application for Initial Authorization

Unauthorized institutions that wish to apply for initial authorization must request the application packet by sending an email to Elizabeth Walker at lwalker@osrhe.edu.

Currently authorized institutions will be provided with the application packet towards the end of each calendar year. The application packet will include instructions for completing and submitting the application, and an invoice for the application fee.

An application from an institution that is not eligible for authorization as required in OSRHE policy will not be accepted (see Eligibility to Apply for Authorization above).

2. Application Fees

All applications must be accompanied by payment of the application fee. An application received without the application fee is out of compliance with OSRHE policy and will not be reviewed until the application fee is received. See Authorization Fees for the current fee amount. The application fee must be paid by paper check. Further instructions for payment of the fee are in the invoice included in the application packet.

Once received, the application fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether the corresponding application is submitted to the State Regents or the State Regents approve it.

An application fee from an institution that is not eligible for authorization as required in OSRHE policy will not be accepted.

3. Review of the Application for Initial Authorization

OSRHE staff will review complete applications to ensure the application and institution are in compliance with OSRHE policy. On determination of compliance, staff will submit the application to the State Regents at their earliest available regularly scheduled meeting. Meeting dates and their corresponding deadlines are included in the application packet.

4. Incomplete or Non-Compliant Applications

An application that is incomplete or determined not to demonstrate institutional compliance with OSRHE policy will not be presented to the State Regents. The institution will be provided with written notification of the determination of non-compliance which will include the reasons for the determination. State Regents staff will be available to work with an institution to address the deficiencies and bring the application and the institution into compliance with OSRHE policy, if staff determine that it is possible to do so. When compliance is achieved, the application will be presented to the State Regents at their next available regularly scheduled meeting.

Currently Authorized Institutions

A currently authorized institution must complete the application or regain compliance within a timeframe determined by staff based on the circumstances, timing, and nature of the non-compliance, or its authorization will lapse and it will no longer be authorized. The institution will receive written notice of the lapse which will include the last day of authorization and the required closure procedures.

Institutions Applying for Initial Authorization

An institution applying for initial authorization must complete the application or achieve compliance within 90 days of the notice of non-compliance or the application will expire. If the institution wishes to continue to pursue authorization or re-authorization in Oklahoma, it must submit a new application and a new application fee. No fees or payments will be refunded.

5. Notification of Approval and Effective Date

Institutions whose applications the State Regents approve for authorization will be provided with written notification of the approval which will include invoices for required fees and, for private institutions, payment into the student tuition recovery fund. On receipt of all payments, the institution will be provided written notification that its authorization is in effect, which will include the term of authorization, and the institution will be listed on the OSRHE website.

An institution applying for initial authorization may not conduct any marketing or student enrollment activities in Oklahoma or any other degree-related activity until it receives the notice that its authorization is in effect.

6. Authorization Fees and STRF Payments

Authorization fees and STRF payments are in addition to the application fee. All payments must be made by paper check. Further instructions for payment are included in the invoices provided with the notice of approval of authorization. See Authorization Fees and Student Tuition Recovery Fund Payments for current fees and payment amounts.

Full payment of all fees and payments must be received no later than 90 days from the date of the invoice, or Dec. 31 of the calendar year in which the institution’s application was approved, whichever comes first. The institution is responsible for keeping track of this deadline; OSRHE will issue no alerts or notices of its approach.

7. Term of Authorization

For purposes of this policy, an academic year is the period of time from the first day of an institution’s fall semester through the last day of its last summer session of the following calendar year. Re-authorization is required annually. Specific dates for each year are provided in that year’s application packet and in the approval and effective notices to the institution.

B. Non-Approval or Revocation of Authorization

1. Non-Approval of Initial Authorization

If the State Regents do not approve an institution’s application for initial authorization, the institution is not authorized and may not conduct any degree-related activity listed in OSRHE policy. No fees will be refunded.

2. Non-Approval of Re-Authorization

If the State Regents do not approve an institution’s application for re-authorization, the institution’s authorization will expire at the end of its current term of authorization. It shall immediately upon notification of the non-approval cease all student marketing and enrollment activities in Oklahoma and shall begin the appropriate closure procedure. Notice of the institution’s impending expiration of authorization, the reason why, the anticipated date, and other relevant information will be added to its listing on the OSRHE website.

3. Revocation of Authorization

If any of the conditions for revocation of authorization in OSRHE policy or in these procedures are met, the institution will be provided with written notification of impending revocation, upon receipt of which it shall immediately cease all student marketing and enrollment activities in Oklahoma and shall begin the appropriate closure procedure. Notice of the institution’s impending revocation of authorization, the reason why, the anticipated date, and other relevant information will be added to its listing on the OSRHE website.

C. Appeal Non-Approval or Revocation of Authorization

1. Submittal and Review of Appeal

An institution that wishes to appeal the revocation or non-approval of authorization must submit to the OSRHE office, within 20 calendar days of receipt of notification, written documentation detailing why it believes the revocation or non-renewal is not warranted by state statute or OSRHE policy. The institution is responsible for keeping track of this deadline; OSRHE will issue no alerts or notices of its approach.

Upon receipt of the documentation, OSRHE staff will review it to determine whether the additional information demonstrates compliance with state statute and OSRHE policy. If it is determined that the response satisfactorily indicates full compliance, the application will be submitted to the State Regents at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

2. Schedule of Appeal Process

The schedule for the appeal process and how it affects the institution’s implementation of closure will be determined and communicated to the institution on receipt and analysis of the appeal. During the period of time from the receipt of the appeal documentation to final determination of compliance, the institution will retain whatever authorization status it held prior to the non-approval or revocation.

3. Determination of Appeal

If it is determined that the appeal documentation does not demonstrate compliance with state statute and OSRHE policy, the institution will be notified of the determination in writing, including the reasons why, and the institution will begin or resume closure procedures.

Determination that the appeal documentation does not demonstrate compliance with state statute and OSRHE policy is final and no further appeal will be accepted.

Institutions whose authorization has been revoked or not approved may be considered again for authorization after reestablishing compliance with state statute and OSRHE policy.

Questions About State Authorization in Oklahoma

Elizabeth Walker
Coordinator for Academic Administration
lwalker@osrhe.edu