This section is intended to answer general questions about authorizing Private Postsecondary Education in Kansas. It is not intended to supersede any statute or regulatory requirements.
- Why is it necessary to obtain a Certificate of Approval from KBOR before enrolling Kansans?
- What does the approval process involve?
- How do schools obtain a Certificate of Approval?
- How often do schools renew their approval?
- Do branch locations require a Certificate of Approval?
- What are the fees for a Certificate of Approval?
- What are the fees for a Certificate of Approval?
- Are there advertising standards?
- What is the complaint process?
- What if a school closes?
- How are student transcripts obtained from a closed school?
- What is accreditation, and how can I obtain accreditation for my school?
- What are Kansas requirements for degree and non-degree levels?
1. Why is it necessary to obtain a Certificate of Approval from KBOR before enrolling Kansans?
Receiving a Certificate of Approval from the Kansas Board of Regents assures students the institution meets the established quality standards. Students should review the current list of approved schools and programs located at this website before making a decision about which school to invest in.
2. What does the approval process involve?
There is an application form, which is used to guide the process, which generally looks like this:
- School completes initial inquiry questionnaire
- If Certificate of Approval is required, school is granted access to application
- School completes and submits the application and fees
- KBOR staff reviews submitted application
- Approval processes can take several months depending on the quality of submission documentation and program evaluation requirements
- Initial applications from degree-granting institutions are submitted as an agenda item at a monthly Board meeting for approval
- Site evaluations may be required
3. How do schools obtain a Certificate of Approval?
Entities wishing to establish an institution in the State of Kansas must first complete an initial inquiry questionnaire by contacting the Kansas Board of Regents office of Private Postsecondary and Out-of-State Education.
4. How often do schools renew their approval?
All schools must renew their Certificate of Approval annually.
5. Do branch locations require a Certificate of Approval?
Yes. Branch locations are any subsidiary place of business maintained within the state of Kansas by an institution.
6. Does KBOR regulate distance learning via the internet?
Yes. Kansas statutes require any school serving Kansas students, no matter the means of delivery, to be approved by the Kansas Board of Regents. To protect themselves, students should contact the Kansas Board of Regents office before enrolling in schools offering distance learning programs.
7. What are the fees for a Certificate of Approval?
A range of fees are charged for an initial school application, annual re-applications, and school representative applications.
8. Are there advertising standards?
Yes, all advertising and promotional materials must meet the requirements listed in Kansas regulation 88-28-2 (13)
9. What is the complaint process?
The school's complaint process should be posted. The process for filing a complaint with the Kansas Board of Regents office can be found within Complaint Procedures.
10. What if a school closes?
An institution must notify the Board sixty days prior to closure of an institution. Upon closure, the institution must make available all student records that are or have been in attendance at the institutions. The records can be turned over to the state for permanent storage. Records must be kept for 50 years.
11. How are student transcripts obtained from a closed school?
The Kansas Board of Regents office does not have student records for all closed schools. If students need a transcript from a closed school, please contact us to learn if those records are available. The process for requesting transcripts is detailed here: Obtaining a Transcript from a Closed Private/Postsecondary Institution
12. What is accreditation, and how can I obtain accreditation for my school?
The term “accreditation” is often misunderstood or incorrectly used synonymously with our approval. All private postsecondary schools or out-of-state schools serving Kansas students are required by Kansas law to obtain a Certificate of Approval from the Kansas Board of Regents. Accreditation is a non-governmental, voluntary peer review process. More information can be found at CHEA.org.
13. What are Kansas requirements for degree and non-degree levels?
Kansas regulation 88-28-1 defines the degree and non-degree levels.