State Authorization for Online Courses

Minnesota State University, Mankato offers online courses and programs to a wide array of learners, across the region and our nation, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges.

Minnesota State Mankato is a member of NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements), which means we share a reciprocity agreement with all states who are part of the NC-SARA group.

To find out if you live in a state that has joined this consortium, check out the NC-SARA map. If you don’t see your state listed as NC-SARA approved, more states are coming on board quickly, and soon we anticipate that most states will be participating. 

Minnesota State University, Mankato has been approved by the State of Minnesota to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.

Student Consumer Complaint Process

Pursuant to the United States Department of Education’s Program Integrity Rule, institutions providing online education are required to provide all prospective and current students contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state.

We encourage you to seek resolution to any concerns by discussing them informally with a staff member at the University. If a complaint cannot be handled informally, Minnesota State University students are encouraged to use our University’s complaint process, outlined in the Student Handbook.

If a complaint cannot be resolved at the University level, you may contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. If you reside in another state, you may contact your local state agency (PDF) for further information.