State Authorizations
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a proud member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). This membership authorizes SNHU to offer educational programs to students in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
As an institution with students residing nationwide, SNHU complies with state regulations by obtaining the necessary approvals to operate (State Authorization) based on the specific activities conducted within each state or territory.
In some locations, SNHU qualifies for exemptions from state authorization, as their regulations allow institutions meeting specific criteria to operate without formal approval.
In other states and territories, SNHU operates under SARA, an agreement among member states and territories that sets national standards for the delivery of interstate distance education. SARA simplifies the process for students to access online courses offered by institutions outside their home state.
| 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 |
| 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: January 14, 2025
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.