Out-of-State Institution Registration

Last updated: 4/10/2025

Certain out–of–state private postsecondary educational institutions must register with the Bureau and comply with specified laws and regulations. Registration requirements do not apply to degree–granting higher education institutions that are:

• Formed as a nonprofit corporation and accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. "Nonprofit corporation" means an institution to which contributions have been determined by the United States Internal Revenue Service to be tax–deductible pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code, subject to the limitations described in Section 94874.1.
• Public institutions of higher education. "Public institution of higher education" means any of the following:
• An institution that meets the definition of subdivision (a) of Section 66010, including a district or campus of the California Community Colleges.
• An institution operated by the United States government, a state, as defined in Section 3306(j)(1) of Title 26 of the United States Code, a local government, as defined in Section 1393(a)(5) of Title 26 of the United States Code, or Indian tribal government, as defined in Section 7701(a)(40) of Title 26 of the United States Code.
• An institution that is an instrumentality of a state or local government if it meets all of the following:
• The institution's employees are government employees.
• The institution's liabilities are payable to the same degree as if they were liabilities of the state or local government, in the state or local government jurisdiction where the institution is formed.
• The institution is subject to the same financial oversight and open public records laws as the state or local government, in the state or local government jurisdiction where the institution is formed.

All other out–of–state postsecondary education institutions operating in the state of California but without a physical presence requiring Bureau approval must register with the Bureau.

A list of institutions currently registered with the Bureau can be found below. If you believe an out–of–state institution operating in California is subject to registration requirements but is not on the list below, please email enforcement@bppe.ca.gov or file a complaint for the Bureau to investigate. Complaints about registered institutions may be filed in the same manner.