Accrediting Agencies, Approvals, and Memberships 

  • Kaplan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

The HLC website is located at www.ncahlc.org. If you have questions about our accreditation, call 954.515.3296, option 4.  


School Accreditation and Approvals

  • Concord Law School received initial affirmation of accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) in 2000 and reaffirmation of accreditation in 2005. The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for distance learning. The DETC can be contacted at:

    1601 18th Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20009
    Tel: 202.234.5100
    Website: www.detc.org
  • Concord Law School is authorized to operate as a degree-granting institution in the state of California and is registered as an unaccredited law school in the distance learning category with the California Committee of Bar Examiners:

    180 Howard Street
    San Francisco, CA 94105
    Tel: 415.538.2000
    Website: www.calbar.ca.gov

    The California Committee of Bar Examiners registers distance learning schools, and if study is completed in conformance with Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California and all other requirements are met, graduates of the Juris Doctor program are eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination.
  • The Kaplan University School of Business and Management has been validated by the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) as meeting their standards for the Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals, NSTISSI-4011 and Senior Systems Managers, CNSSI-4012 certificates. See the School of Business and Management section of the Kaplan University Catalog for further details. The CNSS can be contacted at:

    Committee on National Security Systems
    CNSS Secretariat
    National Security Agency
    9800 Savage Road, Suite 6716
    Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6716
    Tel: 888.678.4772 (Toll Free)
    Tel: 410.854.6805

Program Accreditation and Approvals

  • The Iowa certification track of the Master of Arts in Teaching program is approved by the Iowa State Board of Education for the secondary teaching concentration area:

    Grimes State Office Building
    400 East 14th Street
    Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
    Tel: 515.281.5296
  • The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE):

    One DuPont Circle, NW, Suite 530
    Washington, DC 20036
    Tel: 202.887.6791
  • The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered online and the Practical Nursing Diploma programs offered onsite in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, and Des Moines are approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing. The Master of Science in Nursing program offered online has received interim approval:

    Iowa Board of Nursing
    400 SW 8th Street, Suite B
    Des Moines, IA 50309-4685
    Tel: 515.281.3255
  • The Practical Nursing Diploma programs offered onsite in Lincoln and Omaha are approved by the Nebraska Board of Nursing and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services:

    Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
    Regulation and Licensure
    PO Box 95007
    Lincoln, NE 68509-5007
  • The Associate of Science in Nursing program has received provisional approval from the Florida Board of Nursing:

    4062 Bald Cypress Way
    Tallahassee, FL 32399-3257
  • The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting program and the Medical Assisting Certificate program are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB):

    Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
    1361 Park Street
    Clearwater, FL 33756
    Tel: 727.210.2350

    The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting program offered at campuses in the state of Maine is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
  • The Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology program offered onsite in Hagerstown is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The University is pursuing CAHIIM accreditation for the online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology and Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management programs, which are currently in candidacy status. CAHIIM can be contacted at:

    223 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2150
    Chicago, IL 60601
    Tel: 312.233.1183
  • The Phlebotomy Certificate program offered onsite in Hagerstown is approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS):

    5600 North River Road, Suite 720
    Rosemont, IL 60018
    Tel: 773.714.8880
  • The Dental Assistant Diploma program offered onsite in Omaha is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “initial accreditation.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at:

    211 East Chicago Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60611
    Tel: 312.440.4653

      State Approvals

      • Kaplan University is licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Board:

        1400 West Washington, Room 260
        Phoenix, AZ 85007
        Tel: 602.542.5709
      • Kaplan University is certified to offer online degree programs by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board certification does not constitute an endorsement of any institution or program. Such certification merely indicates that certain criteria have been met as required under the rules and regulations implementing institutional and program certification as defined in Arkansas Code §6-61-301.
      • Kaplan University is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, license number 3296. Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission:

        325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414
        Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
        Tel: 888.224.6684 (Toll Free)
      • Kaplan University has operating authority granted by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Board:

        431 East Adams, 2nd Floor
        Springfield, IL 62701
        Tel: 217.782.2551
      • Kaplan University is regulated by the Indiana Commission on Proprietary Education:

        302 West Washington Street, Room E201
        Indianapolis, IN 46204-2767
        Tel: 800.227.5695 (Toll Free)
        Tel: 317.232.1320
      • Kaplan University is recognized by the Iowa Department of Education. Qualified students of Kaplan University are eligible to receive Iowa state tuition grants. Kaplan University is approved by the Iowa and Illinois Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Iowa Private Industry Area Council.
      • Kaplan University is licensed by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Council:

        1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 320
        Frankfort, KY 40601
        Tel: 502.573.1555
        Fax: 502.573.1535
        Website: www.cpe.ky.gov

        Note: The Master of Science in Higher Education degree is not recognized for rank change for K–12 teachers in Kentucky.
      • The Lewiston and South Portland campuses are approved by the state of Maine to offer the following associate’s degrees, which are authorized by the state of Maine legislature: accounting, business administration, criminal justice, early childhood education, medical assisting, and paralegal studies.
      • The Frederick and Hagerstown campuses are approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission as coeducational, nonpublic institutions of higher education offering bachelor’s, associate’s, and certificate programs:

        Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC)
        839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400
        Annapolis, MD 21401
        Tel: 410.260.4500
      • Kaplan University is registered as a private institution with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Registration does not mean that credits earned at the institution can be transferred to all other institutions.

        Minnesota Office of Higher Education
        1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
        St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
      • Kaplan University is certified to operate by the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education:

        3515 Amazonas Drive
        Jefferson City, MO 65109
        Tel: 573.751.2361
        Website: www.dhe.mo.gov
      • Kaplan University is authorized by Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission:

        140 North 8th Street, Suite 300
        Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
        Tel: 402.471.2847
      • Kaplan University is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. This authorization must be renewed each year and is based on an evaluation by minimum standards concerning quality of education, ethical business practices, health and safety, and fiscal responsibility. Any grievances not resolved on the institutional level may be forwarded to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission:

        404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1900
        Nashville, TN 37243-0830
        Tel: 615.741.5293
      • Kaplan University is authorized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:

        1200 East Anderson Lane
        Austin, TX 78711
        Tel: 512.427.6200
      • Kaplan University is authorized by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Kaplan University to advertise and recruit for the following degree programs: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice; Bachelor of Science in Information Technology; and Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies. Authorization by the HECB does not carry with it an endorsement by the board of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the HECB at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430.
      • Kaplan University is authorized by the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board. Any questions or concerns about this school that have not been satisfactorily answered or resolved by the school should be directed to the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board:

        30 West Mifflin Street, 9th Floor
        P.O. Box 8696
        Madison, WI 53708-8696
        Tel: 608.266.1996
        Website: http://eab.state.wi.us


      Additional Approvals and Memberships

      • Kaplan University is a licensed testing center for the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA).Tests are offered at select Kaplan University locations.
      • Kaplan University is approved under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code, to train eligible persons and veterans.
      • Kaplan University is approved to train eligible students by the Workforce Development Center.
      • Kaplan University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant, alien students.
      • Kaplan University is a member of the Career College Association:

        1101 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 900
        Washington, DC 20036
        Tel: 202.336.6700
      • Kaplan University programs are recognized by the following agencies and federal laws:

        • Dislocated Workers Center
        • Iowa Workforce Development Center
        • Job Training Partnership Act
        • Vocational Rehabilitation Services
        • Work Incentive Act

         Disclosure Statement 

        Kaplan Higher Education includes more than 70 campuses in the U.S. and abroad, as well as online programs through Kaplan University and Concord Law School. Kaplan University offers career-oriented master's, bachelor's, and associate's degrees as well as certificates and diplomas.

        Through Kaplan Higher Education, students gain the skills necessary to qualify for employment in a variety of fields, including criminal justice, health care, business, education, financial planning, information technology, legal studies, fashion, and design. Each of the individual schools in the division is separately accredited by one of several national or regional accrediting agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Kaplan also operates Dublin Business School, Ireland's largest independent third-level institution, and runs a partnership with Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom that provides courses to international students seeking admission to programs at the University.

        Kaplan University suggests and encourages its students to independently research the licensing requirements in any state where they intend to seek licensure.