State Authorizations
As an institution that has students residing across the United States, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is required to obtain state approval to operate (State Authorization) based on the activities it conducts in a state/territory.
In some states/territories, SNHU is exempt from seeking approval to operate as their regulations allow for institutions that meet specific criteria to apply for an exemption in lieu of approval to operate.
In other states/territories, SNHU has a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) which provides approval to operate. SARA is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offerings of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts.
| STATE | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Alabama | SARA |
| Alaska | SARA |
| Arizona | SARA |
| Arkansas | SARA |
| California | EXEMPT |
| Colorado | SARA |
| Connecticut | SARA |
| Delaware | SARA |
| District of Columbia | SARA |
| Florida | SARA |
| Georgia | SARA |
| Hawaii | SARA |
| Idaho | SARA |
| Illinois | SARA |
| Indiana | SARA & APPROVAL TO OPERATE |
| Iowa | SARA |
| Kansas | SARA |
| Kentucky | SARA |
| Louisiana | SARA & APPROVAL TO OPERATE |
| Maine | SARA |
| Maryland | SARA |
| Massachusetts | SARA |
| Michigan | SARA |
| Minnesota | SARA |
| Mississippi | SARA |
| Missouri | SARA |
| Montana | SARA |
| Nebraska | SARA |
| Nevada | SARA |
| New Hampshire | SARA & APPROVAL TO OPERATE |
| New Jersey | SARA |
| New Mexico | SARA |
| New York | SARA |
| North Carolina | SARA |
| North Dakota | SARA |
| Ohio | SARA |
| Oklahoma | SARA |
| Oregon | SARA |
| Pennsylvania | SARA |
| Rhode Island | SARA |
| South Carolina | SARA |
| South Dakota | SARA |
| Tennessee | SARA |
| Texas | SARA |
| Utah | SARA |
| Vermont | SARA & APPROVAL TO OPERATE |
| Virginia | SARA |
| Washington | SARA |
| West Virginia | SARA |
| Wisconsin | SARA |
| Wyoming | SARA |
| U.S. TERRITORIES: | |
| Guam | EXEMPT |
| Puerto Rico | SARA |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | SARA |
| Washington, D.C. |
SARA |
Updated: August, 2022
Licensure and Certification Disclosures
SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page.