The campuses of the California State University are accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), among other accrediting agencies.
Click on a location to learn about that campus's accreditation.
State authorization, part of the Higher Education Act, requires institutions to be authorized in the state in which they are located as a condition for eligibility to receive Title IV federal student aid. The U.S. Department of Education continues to review and update the regulations for state authorization of online education. The current regulations are in effect as of July 1, 2020. If an institution offers postsecondary distance education to students in a state in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to state jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any state requirements for it to legally offer distance education in that state. The CSU Chancellor’s Office serves as a resource for campuses seeking to comply with state laws in every state. If authorization or licensure is necessary or becomes necessary, individual campuses must seek the appropriate approvals.
Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Education's Program Integrity Rule, every institution of higher education is required to provide all prospective and current students with the contact information for the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state.
Students are encouraged to utilize California State University's internal complaint or review policies and procedures prior to filing a complaint with a state agency. Executive Order 1063 outlines the internal complaint process at the CSU. If you are a student wishing to file a complaint in your home state, please select the state contact from the State Authorization Guide https://nc-sara.org/guide/state-authorization-guide to file a complaint directly in your state.
California State University programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student for California licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the California State University and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.
The California State University has not determined whether its programs meet other states’ educational or professional requirements for licensure and certification. Students planning to pursue licensure or certification in other states are responsible for determining whether, if they complete a California State University program, they will meet their state’s requirements for licensure or certification. This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).