.edu Eligibility
Only postsecondary institutions that are institutionally accredited by an agency on the U.S.
Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies (see
recognized accrediting bodies) may obtain
an Internet name in the .edu domain. These include both "Regional Institutional Accrediting
Agencies" and "National Institutional and Specialized Accrediting Bodies" recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education.
Note that institutional accreditation is required for .edu eligibility; program accreditation
is not sufficient. Not all agencies accredit institutions. Some accredit only institutions, some
accredit only programs, and others accredit both institutions and programs.
It is also important to note that, while every effort is made to keep the EDUCAUSE list
up-to-date, the U.S. Department of Education's list of
Nationally
Recognized Accrediting Agencies and
State Agencies are the only official comprehensive lists of agencies.
Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, http://www.msche.org
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges - Institutions of Higher Education, http://www.neasc.org
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges - Technical and Career Institutions, http://www.neasc.org
- North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, http://www.ncacasi.org
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, http://www.nwccu.org/
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, http://www.sacs.org
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Accrediting Commission for Schools, http://www.wascweb.org
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Community and Junior Colleges, http://www.wascweb.org
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Senior Colleges and Universities, http://www.wascweb.org
National Institutional and Specialized Accrediting Bodies that Accredit Institutions
- Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, http://www.acaom.org
- Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, http://www.abhes.org
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, http://www.accsct.org
- Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training, http://www.accet.org
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, http://www.acics.org
- American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education & Admissions to the Bar, http://www.abanet.org/legaled/
- American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on Accreditation, http://www.abfse.org
- American Osteopathic Association, Bureau of Professional Education, http://www.aoa-net.org
- American Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric Medical Education, https://www.do-online.org/
- Association for Biblical Higher Education, http://abhe.gospelcom.net/
- Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Accreditation Commission, http://www.acpe.edu
- Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, Accreditation Commission
- Association of Theological Schools in the United States & Canada, Commission on Accrediting, http://www.ats.edu
- Commission on English Language Program Accreditation, http://www.cea-accredit.org
- Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation, http://www.comta.org
- Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, http://www.aana.com
- Council on Chiropractic Education, Commission on Accreditation, http://www.cce-usa.org
- Council on Occupational Education, http://www.council.org
- Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission, http://www.detc.org
- Midwifery Education Accreditation Council, http://www.meacschools.org
- Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, Commission on Accreditation, http://www.macte.org
- National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences, http://www.naccas.org
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation, http://www.arts-accredit.org
- National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on Accreditation, http://www.arts-accredit.org
- National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation, http://www.arts-accredit.org
- National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on Accreditation, http://www.arts-accredit.org
- New York Board of Regents, Commissioner of Education, http://www.nysed.gov
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, Accreditation Commission, http://www.tracs.org
State Agencies that Accredit Institutions
Changes to this policy
The policies that govern .edu domain management are reviewed periodically by a Policy Board. The Policy Board can recommend changes in .edu policy for acceptance by the U.S. Department of Commerce. To suggest policy changes, or to submit comments on policy changes suggested by others, go to the EDUCAUSE .edu Policy Comment Forum.
Why do some institutions that do not meet the eligibility criteria have .edu domain names?
According to the Cooperative Agreement between EDUCAUSE and the U.S. Department of Commerce, all .edu names in existence as of October 29, 2001, are "grandfathered." This means that everyone who already had a .edu name by that date (October 29, 2001), regardless of current or past eligibility requirements, is allowed to keep those .edu names.
For further information please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
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