| 1. | What are the eligibility requirements for obtaining a name in the .edu domain? |
| | Eligibility for a .edu domain name is limited to U.S. postsecondary institutions that are institutionally accredited, i.e., the entire institution and not just particular programs, by agencies on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies. These include both "Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies" and "National Institutional and Specialized Accrediting Bodies" recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Note that institutional accreditation is required for .edu eligibility; program accreditation is not sufficient. Not all agencies accredit institutions. Some accredit only institutions, some accredit only programs, and others accredit both institutions and programs.
It is also important to note that, while every effort is made to keep the EDUCAUSE list up-to-date, the U.S. Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and State Agencies are the only official comprehensive lists of agencies. |
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| 2. | Are postsecondary institutions located outside the United States eligible for names in the .edu domain? |
| | As specified by the Department of Commerce, only postsecondary "US institutions" that are institutionally accredited by one of the agencies on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies may apply for new names in the .edu domain. We thus require applicants to be located within the United States (including US territories and possessions); or to be licensed, chartered, or incorporated within the United States (including US territories and possessions); or to be otherwise officially recognized by a US state or federal government agency (including US territories and possessions).
If you are not located within the United States but believe you meet one of the other qualifications as a US institution AND are institutionally accredited by one of the Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies we recognize, please contact edu@educause.edu.
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| 3. | What are the eligibility requirements for a "System/District Office"? |
| | University system offices, state coordinating offices or boards, community college district offices, or equivalent entities located within the United States which have as their principal activity the management and governance of a collection of 'Accredited Institutions' that themselves meet the eligibility criteria for .EDU. Each entity, in order to qualify under this category, must be commissioned, established, or recognized by a state, local or national government to perform this management and governance activity.
If your organization meets the above criteria and would like to request a .edu domain, you must first complete the authorization application form. |
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| 4. | Are for-profit colleges eligible for names in the .edu domain? |
| | An institution’s profit-making status is not an element of eligibility. |
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| 5. | Are K-12 schools eligible for names in the .edu domain? |
| | No. Only appropriately accredited postsecondary institutions are eligible. |
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| 6. | Why do some organizations have .edu domain names even though they do not meet the eligibility requirements?
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| | The Cooperative Agreement between EDUCAUSE and the U.S. Department of Commerce specifies that all .edu names in existence as of October 29, 2001 are "grandfathered," regardless of current or past eligibility requirements.
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