Accreditation & Authorization
Explore UofL’s accreditation, state authorization, quality assurance and academic compliance practices.
Sidebar
The University of Louisville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, doctorate, and first-professional (D.M.D., J.D., M.D.) degrees. The University of Louisville also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
Questions about the accreditation of the University of Louisville may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
SACSCOC should be contacted only for accreditation-related reasons. The UofL accreditation liaison should be consulted before any inquiries are made to SACSCOC. Contact the Office of Academic Planning & Accountability with any questions at 502-852-6169.
Institutional compliance and accreditation reports
Every ten years, UofL’s accreditation is reaffirmed by SACSCOC. The most recent reaffirmation occurred in 2017. Learn more about UofL's compliance and reporting efforts.
State Authorization
The University of Louisville (UofL) is authorized to operate and award degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under KRS 164.026, 164.810 and 164.815. UofL also participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), which allows participating institutions to offer distance education to students located in other SARA member states and U.S. territories, subject to SARA’s quality and consumer protection standards.
All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are members of SARA, with the exception of California. Although California is not a SARA member, UofL is not subject to regulation by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education because it is a public institution located outside the state. As a result, UofL may offer distance education programs to students located in California without obtaining separate institutional authorization.
Additional details about state authorization and SARA, including information about professional licensure programs, student complaint procedures and international compliance considerations, are provided in the tabs below.
Important Information for Prospective and Current Students
Located Outside Kentucky or Plan to Be During Your Program?
The University of Louisville (UofL) offers many programs that can be completed fully online or include learning placements such as internships, clinicals or student teaching. Because these activities may occur across state lines, it is important to understand how state authorization works and what it may mean for your program - especially if you live outside Kentucky or plan to complete experiential learning in another state.
Program availability and placement approval can vary by both state and program type, even though UofL as an institution is authorized through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).
What Is SARA?
SARA allows member states and participating institutions to offer distance education in other member states and U.S. territories so long as the institution adheres to SARA's quality and consumer protection standards. Member states include all U.S. states (except California), as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Although California is not a SARA member, UofL can offer programs to students located in California without seeking additional institutional authorization. More information on SARA can be found by visiting nc-sara.org.
SARA is an institutional approval
While UofL, as a university, can offer distance education in SARA member states, individual programs may still be fully or partially restricted because:
- State licensing boards may require separate program approvals.
- Some state agencies or boards require fees, insurance, registration or other conditions that may impact placement availability.
These restrictions particularly affect programs in licensed fields such as nursing, teaching and counseling.
What this means for students
Regardless of your field of study, if your program includes a supervised field experience and you plan to complete it outside Kentucky, you should:
- Confirm with your program that placements are permitted where you plan to complete them.
- Let your program know BEFORE you relocate – state authorization and approval is based on the state where you are physically located while enrolled in the program.
- Students enrolling in fully online programs should review additional information on the State Authorization and Program Availability page of the Online Learning website.
Program‑ and state‑specific restrictions may affect what opportunities are available to you.
Planning to Enroll in a Licensure Program?
If you are considering a program that leads to licensure or certification, it is essential that you understand the regulations and requirements for your home state prior to enrolling in any academic program. The fact that a given program may be authorized to be offered in your state does not indicate or guarantee your eligibility for professional licensure or certification in that state. All of the University of Louisville’s programs designed to lead to professional licensure meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Kentucky.
To determine whether our programs meet educational requirements for licensure in other U.S. states and territories, please review our publicly available professional licensure disclosures for on-campus programs on the Office of Academic Planning & Accountability website and professional licensure disclosures for online programs on the Online Learning website.
Prospective and current students should keep in mind that licensing and authorization requirements vary by state and that relocating during the course of a program to another state could impact whether that student can continue in the course and/or meet the eligibility requirements of that state. Please contact your program to check for authorization and licensure eligibility requirements before you relocate during the course of a program.
How to Navigate the Complaint Process
The University’s Student Complaint Procedure is outlined in detail on the Dean of Students website. Students should first seek to resolve their complaints through informal discussion and administrative channels. This is the same process for all students enrolled at University of Louisville.
Students enrolled in online programs who have complaints, grievances or concerns regarding courses taken at the University of Louisville should contact the University’s Student Advocate in the Dean of Students office to have the issues resolved in an expeditious, fair and amicable manner.
In the unlikely event that the issue is not resolved internally at the University of Louisville, students enrolled in online programs may file complaints with other agencies. The process will depend upon where a student resides and can be found on the Complaint Procedures page of the Online Learning website.
Guidance for International Applicants Enrolling in Online Programs
This information is specific to prospective students located internationally who are interested in completing one of the University of Louisville’s (UofL) online programs from a country outside of the United States and its territories.
UofL works to provide global access to its online degree programs. However, it is important to understand that UofL is required to comply with economic sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Applications for admission and funding plans may be subject to additional review to ensure ongoing compliance with these requirements. Access to UofL campus systems, services and courses from countries or regions subject to economic and/or trade sanctions by OFAC or other authorities may be restricted. For a list of current OFAC sanctions, please visit the OFAC Sanctions Programs and Country Information site. Contact the Distance Education Compliance Manager at deregs@louisville.edu for further guidance on OFAC sanctions and restrictions.
While we track compliance issues related to international authorization, it is the student’s responsibility to understand current circumstances or special requirements surrounding online degrees in countries outside the United States. UofL Online reviews this information on a case-by-case basis; however, many times the university cannot determine whether online delivery is permitted or whether a program meets international authorization requirements.
Additionally, each international location has its own laws regarding online education and professional licensure. Some locations have certain requirements that must be met before certain programs may be recognized. Requirements may vary by licensure area or program.
Please note the following risks and considerations before enrolling in a UofL online program from a country outside the United States:
- The online degree selected may not be recognized in your country of residence and/or any country in which you intend to work. This may have implications for students who later to seek to enroll in other educational programs, or for those who seek employment requiring specific credentials;
- How the collection of student data may be used in any such country;
- Whether you will be ineligible for financial aid from your country’s government;
- Whether you will be subject to additional withholding taxes in addition to the price of tuition;
- Whether you will be able to sit for professional licensure or certification in your country;
- Whether you will be eligible for consumer protections in your country;
- Whether you will be able to complete field placements (practicum, internship, etc.) in that country. This could affect licensure or recognition of the degree to meet particular requirements in that country.
Therefore, if you decide to enroll in any of UofL's programs from a country other than the United States, or if you move to another country during the course of your studies, please be aware that you are taking a risk that you may not be able to complete that program or use any of the credit earned in that program should you decide to pursue employment or licensing in that field in that country. Please note that the risks listed above are not exhaustive.
Students considering a program leading to professional licensure should contact the licensing board in their country of residence or country in which they intend to work to determine whether the program is recognized for licensure or certification. Please verify with your country’s professional licensing board that your plans are not impacted by these risks.
*Note: Exceptions may apply for students affiliated with the U.S. military and stationed in an international location (e.g., military members, military dependents and spouses, etc).