Accreditation » State Authorization and Licensure

University of Saint Francis (USF) is a private not-for-profit Catholic institution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  USF seeks authorization or exemption, as applicable, in U.S. states and territories in compliance with federal and state regulations that govern the offering of online programs. USF is in a continuous process to monitor regulations in states and territories in which it offers programs and courses. Regulations vary by state. Please review regulatory information and professional licensing requirements in your state of residence.

For specific information regarding state authorization, approval, licensure or exemption, contact Gwen Hefty or Dr. Marcia Sauter in the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.

 *Updated 5/14/2013

Arizona

USF is not required to be licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education since the university has no physical presence in Arizona.

State of Arizona Exemption

California

USF is not required to be licensed by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education since the university has no physical presence in California.

Colorado

USF is not required to be licensed by the Colorado Department of Higher Education since the university has no physical presence in Colorado.

State of Colorado Exemption

Connecticut

USF is not required to be authorized by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education since the university has no physical presence in Connecticut.

Connecticut Exemption

Florida

USF is not required to seek authorization from the Florida Commission for Independent Education since the university has no physical presence in Florida.

Florida Exemption

Georgia

USF is not required to seek authorization from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission for the period of 9/1/2012 through 8/31/2013 since the university engages in none of the activities that trigger authorization as determined by the Commission.

State of Georgia Exemption

Illinois

USF is not required to request approval to operate in Illinois since the university meets the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s description of an Institution with Limited Physical Presence.

State of Illinois Exemption

Kansas

USF is not required to apply for a Certificate of Approval from the Kansas Board of Regents for the period of 9/5/2012 through 9/4/2014.

Kentucky

USF is not required to seek licensure from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education for the university's hybrid or distance education programs with no physical presence in Kentucky (Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Art, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF will be required to seek licensure if any students complete experiential coursework in Kentucky or if the university offers distance education programs with a physical presence in Kentucky (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs), RN-BSN).

Maine

USF is not required to be authorized by the Maine Department of Education since the university has no physical presence in Maine.

Maryland

USF is in the process of compiling registration materials for the Maryland Higher Education Commission so that the university might begin to offer hybrid or distance education programs with no physical presence in Maryland (Master of Business Administration, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Arts in Studio Art, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF will be required to apply for a certificate of approval if the university offers hybrid or distance education programs with a physical presence in Maryland (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs), RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, RN-MSN). 

USF is subject to investigation of complaints by the Office of the Attorney General of the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Massachusetts

USF is not required to seek authorization from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education for our hybrid or purely online distance education programs with no physical presence in the state (Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Art, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF has submitted a regulatory compliance inquiry to the state for our programs with practical learning components that may take place in Massachusetts (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs), RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, RN-MSN).

Michigan

USF is not required to be licensed to provide online instruction to Michigan residents since the university has no physical presence in the State of Michigan.

Minnesota

USF is not currently registered with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.  USF will be required to register with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education if the university offers distance education programs or courses to residents of Minnesota.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education letter

Missouri

USF is not required to be licensed by the Missouri Department of Higher Education since the university has no physical presence in Missouri.

Montana

USF has submitted a regulatory compliance inquiry to the state.

Nevada

USF is not required to be licensed by the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education for the university's hybrid or distance education programs with no physical presence in Nevada (Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Art, Associate of Liberal Studies).

State of Nevada partial Exemption 

USF will be required to seek licensure if the university offers hybrid or distance education programs with a physical presence in Nevada (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs), RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, RN-MSN).

New Jersey

USF is not required to be licensed by the department of New Jersey Higher Education since the university has no physical presence in New Jersey.

New Mexico

USF has submitted a regulatory compliance inquiry to the state.

New York

USF is not required to seek permission to operate in New York for the university's hybrid or distance education programs with no physical presence in New York (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs), RN-BSN, Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Arts, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF will be required to seek permission to operate in New York if the university offers hybrid or distance education programs with a physical presence in New York that lead to a different professional license (Master of Science in Nursing, RN-MSN).

2010 Nursing Memo New York State Education Department

North Carolina

USF is not required to be licensed by the North Carolina Board of Governors for the university's hybrid or distance education programs with no physical presence in North Carolina (Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Arts, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF will be required to seek licensure if the university offers hybrid or distance education programs with a physical presence in North Carolina (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs), RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, RN-MSN).

North Dakota

USF submitted an exemption request to the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education on 12/4/2012.

Ohio

USF is authorized to offer the online RN-BSN program in Ohio.  Our current authorization period is 1/9/2013 - 12/31/2016.

Ohio Board of Regents authorization

USF is not required to be authorized by the Ohio Board of Regents for the university's hybrid or distance education programs with no physical presence in Ohio (Master of Science in Nursing, RN-MSN, Master of Arts in Studio Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF is not required to be authorized for Ohio students enrolled in the university's Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs) provided that students do not complete any experiential learning activities (student teaching, practica) in the state of Ohio.  USF will be required to apply for authorization in Ohio if students wish to complete experiential learning activities in Ohio.

Oklahoma

USF is not required to be authorized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education since the university has no physical presence in Oklahoma.

Pennsylvania

USF is approved to offer distance education or conduct other activities in Pennsylvania for the period of 6/22/2012 through 6/30/2013.

State of Pennsylvania exemption

South Carolina

USF is not required to seek authorization from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education for our hybrid or purely online distance education programs with no physical presence in the state (Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Art, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF has submitted a regulatory compliance inquiry to the state for our programs with practical learning components that may take place in South Carolina (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs), RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, RN-MSN).

Tennessee

USF is not required to be authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission since the university has no physical presence in Tennessee.

Texas

USF is not required to seek authorization from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for our hybrid or purely online distance education programs with no physical presence in the state (Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Art, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF has submitted a regulatory compliance inquiry to the state for our programs with practical learning components that may take place in Texas (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs), RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, RN-MSN).

Virginia

USF is exempt from certification requirements of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia since the university has no physical presence in Virginia.

Washington

USF is not required to seek authorization by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board for the university's hybrid or distance education programs with no physical presence in Washington (Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Art, Associate of Liberal Studies).

USF will be required to seek authorization if any students complete field experience coursework in Washington or if the university offers distance education programs with a physical presence in Washington (Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs)).

Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board letter

West Virginia

USF is authorized to offer distance education in West Virginia for the period of 4/30/2013 through 4/30/2014.   This authorization covers the following programs: RN-BSN, Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Sustainability, Master of Environmental Health, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Arts in Studio Art, Master of Science in Education (Special Education/Exceptional Needs).

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission authorization

Wisconsin

USF is not currently approved by the Wisconsin Education Approval Board.  USF will be required to be approved by the Wisconsin Education Approval Board if the university offers distance education programs or courses to residents of Wisconsin.