University of the Pacific Authorized States/Territories

State authorization is a regulation of the U.S. Department of Education that requires institutions offering distance education courses to be authorized by each state in which the institution enrolls students (if such authorization is required by the state). Each state has a different set of requirements when it comes to allowing out-of-state universities to offer online graduate degree programs to its residents. Pacific is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). 

See more information on the university's accreditation.

Exempt per Regulations - According to regulations for state authorization, Pacific is exempt and can enroll students residing in this state in online programs.

Institutional Authorization - Pacific has obtained authorization from this state by submitting all required documentation and obtaining approval. Pacific can enroll students residing in this state in online programs.

In process - Pacific is in the process of obtaining authorization from this state.  This page will be updated when authorization is obtained.

Not pursuing authorization at this time - Pacific is not pursuing authorization in this state and may not enroll students residing in this state in online programs, please contact our State Authorization Representative for more information.

State/TerritoriesApproval
AlabamaNot pursuing authorization at this time
AlaskaNot pursuing authorization at this time
ArizonaExempt per Regulations
ArkansasNot pursuing authorization at this time
CaliforniaInstitutional Authorization
ColoradoExempt per Regulations
ConnecticutNot pursuing authorization at this time
DelawareNot pursuing authorization at this time
District of ColumbiaNot pursuing authorization at this time
FloridaExempt per Regulations
GeorgiaNot pursuing authorization at this time
HawaiiExempt per Regulations
IdahoExempt per Regulations
IllinoisExempt per Regulations
IndianaNot pursuing authorization at this time
IowaNot pursuing authorization at this time
KansasNot pursuing authorization at this time
KentuckyNot pursuing authorization at this time
LouisianaInstitutional Authorization 
MaineExempt per Regulations
MarylandInstitutional Authorization
MassachusettsNot pursuing authorization at this time
MichiganInstitutional Authorization 
MinnesotaIn process
MississippiExempt per Regulations
MissouriExempt per Regulations
MontanaInstitutional Authorization
NebraskaExempt per Regulations
NevadaInstitutional Authorization 
New HampshireExempt per Regulations
New JerseyNot pursuing authorization at this time
New MexicoNot pursuing authorization at this time
New YorkNot pursuing authorization at this time
North CarolinaNot pursuing authorization at this time
North DakotaNot pursuing authorization at this time
OhioExempt per Regulations
OklahomaExempt per Regulations
OregonIn process
PennsylvaniaNot pursuing authorization at this time
Puerto RicoMore investigation required
Rhode IslandNot pursuing authorization at this time
South CarolinaExempt per Regulations
South DakotaExempt per Regulations
TennesseeExempt per Regulations
TexasExempt per Regulations
UtahExempt per Regulations
VermontExempt per Regulations
VirginiaNot pursuing authorization at this time
WashingtonExempt per Regulations
West VirginiaExempt per Regulations
WisconsinNot pursuing authorization at this time
WyomingInstitutional Authorization

Students who have complaints that have not been resolved through contact with the university may seek advisement from the appropriate office in the student’s state of residence.

Below is the contact information for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and should not be construed as informative of what agencies regulate the institution or in what states the institution is authorized to operate. States will accept complaints regardless of whether an institution is authorized to operate in that state. The university does not maintain state and territory websites, and information may change without the university’s knowledge.

Alabama
Alabama Community College System 
Attn: Division of Academic and Student Affairs 
PO Box 302130 
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130 
Phone: 334-293-4500

Alaska
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education 
PO Box 110505, 
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0505 
Phone: 907-465-6741

Arizona
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education  
1740 W. Adams St., Suite 3008 
Phoenix, AZ 85007 
Phone: 602-542-5709

Arkansas
Arkansas Division of Higher Education 
423 Main St., Suite 400 
Little Rock, AR 72201-3818 
Phone: 501-371-2000

California
California Department of Consumer Affairs 
Consumer Information Center 
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112 
Sacramento, CA 95834 
Phone: 833-942-1120

Colorado
Colorado Department of Higher Education 
Commission on Higher Education 
1600 Broadway, Suite 2200 
Denver, CO 80202 
Phone: 303-862-3001

Connecticut
Connecticut Office of Higher Education 
450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 707 
Hartford, CT 06103-1841 
Phone: 860-947-1800

Delaware
Delaware Department of Education 
The Townsend Building 
401 Federal St., Suite 2 
Dover, DE 19901-3639 
Phone: 302-735-4000

Florida 
Florida Department of Education 
Commission for Independent Education 
325 W. Gaines St., Suite 1414 
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 
Phone: 850-245-0505

Georgia
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission 
2082 E. Exchange Pl., Suite 220 
Tucker, GA 30084 
Phone: 770-414-3300

Hawaii
Business Registration Division of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs 
PO Box 40 
Honolulu, HI 96810 
Phone: 808-586-2727

Idaho
Idaho State Board of Education 
State Authorization Program Manager 
PO Box 83720 
Boise, ID 83720-0037 
Phone: 208-332-1587

Illinois
Illinois Board of Higher Education 
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333 
Springfield, IL 62701-1377 
Phone: 217-782-2551

Indiana
Board for Proprietary Education Indiana Commission for Higher Education 
101 W. Ohio St., Suite 300 
Indianapolis, IN 46204 
Phone: 317-464-4400

Iowa
Iowa College Student Aid Commission 
475 SW Fifth St., Suite D 
Des Moines, IA 50309 
Phone: 877-272-4456

Kansas
The Kansas Board of Regents 
1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 520 
Topeka, KS 66612-4240 
Phone: 785-430-4240

Kentucky
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education 
100 Airport Rd. 
Frankfort, KY 40601 
Phone: 502-573-1555

Louisiana
State of Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200 
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 
Phone: 225-342-4253

Louisiana Alternate Contact:

Office of the Attorney General 
Consumer Protection Section 
P.O. Box 94005 
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9005 
Phone: 225-326-6464 or 800-351-4889

Maine
Maine Department of Education 
23 State House Station 
Augusta, ME 04333-0023 
Phone: 207-624-6600

Maryland
Maryland Higher Education Commission 
6 N. Liberty St., 10th Floor 
Baltimore, MD 21201 
Phone: 410-767-3301

collegiatecomplaint.mhec@maryland.gov

 

Maryland Alternate Contact:

Maryland Office of the Attorney General 
200 St. Paul Place 
Baltimore, MD 21202 
Phone: 410-576-6300 or 888-743-0023

Massachusetts 
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education 
One Ashburton Place, Suite 1401 
Boston, MA 02108-1696 
Phone: 617-994-6950

Michigan 
Michigan Department of Education 
PO Box 30008 
Lansing, MI 48909 
Phone: 517-373-9235

Minnesota 
Minnesota Office of Higher Education 
1450 Energy Park Dr., Suite 350 
St. Paul, MN 55108 
Phone: 651-259-3975 or 800-657-3866

Mississippi 
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation 
3825 Ridgewood Rd. 
Jackson, MS 39211 
Phone: 601-432-6372

Missouri 
Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development 
301 W. High St. 
Jefferson City, MO 65101 
Phone: 573-751-2361

Montana 
Montana University System Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education
560 N. Park Ave. 
PO Box 203201 
Helena, MT 59620-3201 
Phone: 406-449-9124  

Nebraska 
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education 
ATTN: Complaints 
PO Box 95005 
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005 
Phone: 402-471-2847

Nevada 
Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education 
2800 E. St. Louis Avenue 
Las Vegas, NV 89104 
Phone: 702-486-7330

New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Education 
101 Pleasant Street 
Concord, NH 03301-3494 
Phone: 603-271-3494

New Jersey
New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education 
ATTN: Complaints 
P.O. Box 542 
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0542 
Phone: 609-292-4310

New Mexico
New Mexico Higher Education Department 
2044 Galisteo St., Suite 4 
Santa Fe, NM 87505-2100 
Phone: 505-476-8400

New York
New York State Education Department 
Office of College and University Evaluation 
89 Washington Avenue 
EBA Room 960 
Albany, New York 12234 
Phone: 518-486-3633

North Carolina
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints 
910 Raleigh Road 
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 
Phone: 919-962-4558

North Carolina Alternate Contact:

North Carolina Department of Justice 
Consumer Protection Division 
Attorney General’s Office 
Mail Service Center 9001 
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001 
Phone: 877-566-7226 or 919-716-6000

North Dakota
North Dakota University System 
Core Technology Services 
2000 44th St. SW, Suite 301 
Fargo, ND 58103

Ohio
Ohio Department of Higher Education 
25 South Front Street 
Columbus, OH 43215 
Phone: 614-728-3095

Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 
655 Research Pkwy, Suite 200 
Oklahoma City, OK 73104-3603 
Phone: 405-225-9100 or 405-225-9142

Oregon
Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission 
3225 25th Street SE 
Salem, Oregon 97302 
Phone: 503-947-2448

Pennsylvania 
Pennsylvania Department of Education 
Office of Chief Counsel 
333 Market Street, 9th Floor 
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 
Phone: 717-783-6788

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Departamento de Estado 
Consejo de Educacion Superior de Puerto Rico/ 
Puerto Rico Council on Higher Ed. 
PO BOX 9023271 
San Juan, PR 00902-3271 
Phone: 787-722-2121

Rhode Island
Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Education Commission 
560 Jefferson Blvd. 
Warwick, RI 02886-1304 
Phone: 401-736-1100

South Carolina
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education 
1122 Lady Street Suite 300 
Columbia, SC 29201 
Phone: 803-737-3918

South Dakota
South Dakota Board of Regents 
306 East Capitol Ave Suite 200 
Pierre, SD 57501 
Phone: 605-773-3455

Tennessee
Tennessee Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation 
Parkway Towers, Suite 1900 
404 James Robertson Pkwy 
Nashville, TN 37243-0830 
Phone: 615-741-5293 or 615-253-8857

Texas
Texas Workforce Commission 
Career Schools and Colleges-Rm 226-T 
101 East 15th Street 
Austin, TX 78778-0001 
Phone: 512-936-3100

Texas Alternate Contact #1:

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 
Office of General Counsel 
P.O. Box 12788 
Austin, TX 78711-2788 
Phone: 512-427-6101

Texas Alternate Contact #2:

Texas Office of the Attorney General 
Consumer Protection Division 
P.O. Box 12548 
Austin, TX 78711-2548

Utah
Utah System of Higher Education State Board of Regents 
60 South 400 West 
Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1284 
Phone: 801-321-7200 or 1-800-418-8757

Vermont
Vermont Agency of Education 
219 North Main St., Suite 402 
Barre, VT 05641 
Phone: 802-479-1030

Vermont Alternate Contact:

Vermont Attorney General’s Office 
109 State Street 
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001 
Phone: 802-828-3171

Virginia
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia 
James Monroe Building 
101 N. 14th St., 10th Floor 
Richmond, VA 23219 
Phone: 804-225-2600

Washington
Washington Student Achievement Council 
917 Lakeridge Way SW 
Olympia, WA 98502 
Phone: 360-753-7625

Washington, D.C. 
Office of the State Superintendent of Education 
Higher Education Licensure Commission 
1050 First St. NE 
Washington, DC 20002 
Phone: 202-724-7860

West Virginia
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission 
1018 Kanawha Boulevard East, Suite 700 
Charleston, WV 25301 
Phone: 304-558-2101

Wisconsin 
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Educational Approval Program 
P.O. Box 8366 
Madison, WI 53708-8366 
Phone: 608-266-1996

Wyoming 
Wyoming Department of Education 
122 W. 25th St., Suite E200 
Cheyenne, WY 82002 
Phone: 307-777-7675

American Samoa
American Samoa Office of Protection & Advocacy 
Attn: Dr. Peter Tinitali 
Executive Office Building 
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 
Phone: 684-699-2441

Guam 
Guam Office of Attorney General 
287 W O’Brien Dr. 
Hagatna, Guam 96910 
Phone: 671-475-3324

Northern Mariana Islands 
State Higher Education Agency, Northern Marianas College 
POB 501250 
Saipan MP 96950-1250

Northern Mariana Islands Alternate Contact:

Northern Mariana Islands Office of the Attorney General 
Juan A Sablan Memorial Bldg. 
Capital Hill 
Caller Box 10007, Saipan, MP 96950 
Phone: 670-234-5498

U.S. Virgin Islands
Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands 
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs 
Golden Rock Shopping Center, 
3000 Estate Golden Rock, Suite 9, St. Croix, VI 00820 
Phone: 340-713-2754 

Refund Policy for Oregon Students:

Per OAR 583-030-0035(18)(c), Pacific shall provide a tuition refund to Oregon students withdrawing from online graduate professional instruction on the following schedule:

For a fifteen-week semester/trimester, there shall be a 50% prorated refund up to the end of the 8th week. For a five-week semester, there will be a 50% refund up to the end of the 3rd week. 

 

Refund Policy for Maryland Students:

Per §11–202.2.(d)(1) and (2) of the Annotated Code of Maryland and COMAR13B.05.01.10, UCI shall provide a tuition refund to Maryland students withdrawing from online graduate professional instruction on the following schedule:

Proportion of Total Course, Program, or Term Completed as of Date of WithdrawalTuition Refund 
Less than 10% 90% refund 
10% up to but not including 20% 80% refund 
20% up to but not including 30% 60% refund 
30% up to but not including 40% 40% refund 
40% up to and including 60% 20% refund 
More than 60% No refund  
Students in white coats
Clinical Rotation or Externships

State authorization is a regulation of the U.S. Department of Education that requires institutions offering internships and clinical rotations to be authorized by each state where the institution enrolls students at their sites (if the state requires such authorization). Each state has a different set of requirements when it comes to allowing out-of-state students to participate in internships or clinical rotations. Pacific is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

If you have any additional questions, please get in touch with our State Authorization Representative for more information. 

Exempt per Regulations - According to regulations for state authorization, Pacific is exempt and can enroll students residing in this state in online programs.

Institutional Authorization - Pacific has obtained authorization from this state by submitting all required documentation and obtaining approval. Pacific can enroll students residing in this state in online programs.

In process - Pacific is in the process of obtaining authorization from this state.  This page will be updated when authorization is obtained.

Not pursuing authorization at this time - Pacific is not pursuing authorization in this state and may not enroll students residing in this state in online programs, please contact our State Authorization Representative for more information.

StateApproval
AlabamaExempt per Regulations
AlaskaExempt per Regulations
ArizonaExempt per Regulations
ArkansasExempt per Regulations
CaliforniaInstitutional Authorization
ColoradoExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
ConnecticutExempt per Regulations
DelawareExempt per Regulations
District of ColumbiaExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
FloridaExempt per Regulations
GeorgiaExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
HawaiiExempt per Regulations
IdahoExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
IllinoisInstitutional Authorization
IndianaNot pursuing authorization at this time
IowaExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
KansasNot pursuing authorization at this time
KentuckyNot pursuing authorization at this time
LouisianaInstitutional Authorization 
MaineNot pursuing authorization at this time
MarylandInstitutional Authorization
MassachusettsExempt per Regulations
MichiganInstitutional Authorization 
MinnesotaExempt per Regulations
MississippiExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
MissouriExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
MontanaInstitutional Authorization
NebraskaExempt per Regulations
NevadaInstitutional Authorization 
New HampshireInstitutional Authorization (Only specific programs)
New JerseyExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
New MexicoExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
New YorkExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
North CarolinaNot pursuing authorization at this time
North DakotaNot pursuing authorization at this time
OhioNot pursuing authorization at this time
OklahomaNot pursuing authorization at this time
OregonIn process
PennsylvaniaExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
Puerto RicoMore investigation required
Rhode IslandExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
South CarolinaExempt per Regulations
South DakotaExempt per Regulations
TennesseeExempt per Regulations (with limitations)
TexasInstitutional Authorization 
UtahInstitutional Authorization 
VermontExempt per Regulations
VirginiaNot pursuing authorization at this time
WashingtonExempt per Regulations
West VirginiaNot pursuing authorization at this time
WisconsinNot pursuing authorization at this time
WyomingInstitutional Authorization
Unit Contacts

Anabela Bettencourt

Associate Director of Student Accounts
State Authorization Representative 

Email: abettencourt@pacific.edu

Phone: 209.946.2662