Which Iowa agency authorizes postsecondary schools?
Iowa College Aid is the State agency that authorizes postsecondary schools* (Iowa Code Section 261B.2(5)) to operate in Iowa and to offer postsecondary education programs to Iowans. This authorization includes schools with an actual physical location in Iowa as well as schools offering instruction to Iowans via distance education.
Iowa College Aid ensures that nonpublic schools adopt additional consumer protections for students attending Iowa schools and Iowa resident students attending online programs.
A school wanting to offer postsecondary educational instruction in Iowa may be required to demonstrate to Iowa College Aid that the school is in compliance with one or more of the following:
- Registration under Iowa Code Chapter 261B and Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 283-21. An out-of-state school wishing to offer distance education to Iowans should also refer to the webpage for Out-of-State Schools.
- Exemption from Registration under Iowa Code Section 261B.11(2) and Iowa Administrative Code Section 283-21.14
- Financial Responsibility under Iowa Code Section 714.18
In addition, a for-profit school may be required to adopt the following:
- Tuition Refund Policy - A minimum refund of tuition charges to students who withdraw under Iowa Code Section 714.23
- Disclosures for students under Iowa Code Section 714.25
Iowa College Aid is also the state portal agency responsible for Iowa’s postsecondary schools participating in SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement). SARA is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that established comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education. To learn more about this agreement and the participating Iowa institutions under Iowa Code Chapter 261G, please visit SARA .
Whom do I contact?
Schools that have questions about authorization in Iowa or that require further information are encouraged to contact the Postsecondary Authorization Team:
Toll-free: (877) 272-4456
Lisa Pundt
Postsecondary Authorization Administrator / SARA State Portal Agent
(515) 725-3426
lisa.pundt@iowa.gov
Keyli Keifer
Postsecondary Authorization Compliance Officer
(515) 725-3456
keyli.keifer@iowa.gov
Victoria Archer
Postsecondary Authorization Financial Responsibility Specialist
(515) 725-3425
victoria.archer@iowa.gov
*School includes a degree-granting or non-degree granting college, university, and other types of schools and education providers including but not limited to: driver education schools; real estate and appraisal educators; private non-degree granting allied health schools; cosmetology schools, barbering schools, and massage therapy schools; schools of religious study; and other non-degree granting vocational schools.