Oklahoma § 70-4103 - Accreditation for private and out-of-state public degreegranting institutions

§ 70-4103. Accreditation for private and out-of-state public degreegranting institutions

A. As used in this section:

1. “Degree-granting institution” means an institution that

offers education leading to an associate’s degree or higher;

2. “Non-degree-granting activity” means offering education or

training that does not lead to an associate’s degree or higher; and

3. “State authorization reciprocity agreement” means an

agreement among states, districts, and territories that establishes

comparable standards for providing distance education from their

postsecondary educational institutions to out-of-state students.

B. All private and out-of-state public degree-granting

institutions shall be accredited by an accrediting agency which is

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of

Education 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.

Additionally, for the purposes of consumer protection and to

maintain financial eligibility for Title IV funding as described in

34 CFR Part 600, institutions shall be authorized according to the

policies and procedures established by the Oklahoma State Regents

for Higher Education. These policies and procedures shall be

limited to the minimum necessary to ensure that private and out-ofstate degree-granting institutions that operate in this state by any

modality meet the same standards of academic quality and fiscal

responsibility required for institutions of higher education within

The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. Beginning with the

2023-2024 academic year, the State Regents shall:

1. Establish and collect fees annually from applicants for

authorization as necessary to cover the costs of authorization;

2. Require applicants for authorization to submit payment in an

amount established by the State Regents into the Tuition Recovery

Revolving Fund created in Section 2 of this act, which shall be used

to offset student tuition losses in the event an authorized

institution closes or ceases operations; and

3. Be authorized to deny, not renew, or revoke an institution’s

authorization if it is found to be in violation of the Oklahoma

statutes, it fails to meet the minimum authorization standards

established by the State Regents, or an accrediting agency or other

government entity revokes its approval, which is material to the

continuity of the institution. An institution subject to the

provisions of this paragraph shall be given reasonable notice and an

opportunity to be heard prior to a decision to deny, not renew, or

revoke authorization.

C. The following institutions shall be exempt from this

section:

1. Private institutions participating in the Oklahoma Tuition

Equalization Grant program; and

2. Out-of-state public and private institutions participating

in a state authorization reciprocity agreement that only conduct

activities in Oklahoma that are acceptable under the terms and

conditions of the state authorization reciprocity agreement.

D. Non-exempt institutions engaged in non-degree granting

activities, such as offering certificates and diplomas, shall be

subject to the standards administered by the Oklahoma Board of

Private Vocational Schools.

E. The State Regents shall promulgate rules to implement the

provisions of this section.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

Added by Laws 1965, c. 396, § 1103, eff. July 1, 1965. Amended by

Laws 1996, c. 284, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 2016, c. 216, § 1;

Laws 2023, c. 122, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023.