Application and Approval Form for Institution Participation in SARA

An institution applying to operate under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) must submit this form to its Home State’s State Portal Entity. The form is used for both initial application and renewals. Institutions should indicate on the top right area of the first page if it’s an initial application or a renewal application.

APPLICATION AND APPROVAL FORM FOR INSTITUTION PARTICIPATION IN SARA

The application and approval form for institution participation in SARA has been updated and the new version, linked below, is effective January 1, 2026. Through December 31, 2025 please use the current application linked above.

The application has been updated to reflect the November 1, 2025 effective date of PMP25-0747 approved during the 2025 PMP cycle regarding “Financial Responsibility Composite Scores,” and the January 1, 2026 effective date of PMP24-0619 approved during the 2024 PMP cycle regarding “responsibilities for resolving student complaints”. For reference, the new policy regarding PMP25-0747 will be published in the SARA Policy Manual version 26.1 (available by January 1, 2026), and in the meantime the language has been posted on the webpage where you can access the SARA Policy Manual. The new policy regarding PMP24-0619 can be found in the current SARA Policy Manual subsection 4.4 Responsibilities for resolving complaints. To easily identify the updates and changes you will also find a “redline version” below.

The current institution application above will be utilized as long as it is either emailed to your SPE by 11:59 p.m. MT no later than December 31, 2025 or postmarked by December 31 if mailed to the SPE. Beginning on January 1, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. MT, the updated institution application must be used. An example of an institution that is renewing during this application transition period is below.

Please contact your SPE with any questions.

State Portal Entity (SPE) contact information

Example:

XYZ University- Participation Period: January 2, 2025 to January 2, 2026.

  1. Their renewal period opens 90 days before January 2, 2026, which is October 2, 2025.
  2. As of October 2, 2025, they can submit their renewal application to the SPE.
  3. If they submit to the SPE by December 31, 2025, they would use the current application.
  4. If they submit on January 1, 2026, or after, they would use the updated application.

Institutions will begin using this revised form on January 1, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. MT.

 

Financial Responsibility Ratio Methodology Calculation – Updated Links (2.4.2022)

Link to Appendix A to Subpart L of Part 668 – Ratio Methodology for Propriety Institutions: eCFR :: 34 CFR Part 668 Subpart L — Financial Responsibility

Link to Appendix B to Subpart L of Part 668 – Ratio Methodology for Private Non-Profit Institutions: eCFR :: 34 CFR Part 668 Subpart L — Financial Responsibility

Application and Approval Form for State Membership in SARA

This form is for states. A state that would like to apply for or renew membership in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) must submit this form and required documentation to its regional education compact’s SARA office.

APPLICATION AND APPROVAL FORM FOR STATE MEMBERSHIP IN SARA

The application and approval form for institution participation in SARA has been updated and the new version, linked below, is effective January 1, 2026. For submission through December 31, 2025, please use the current application linked above.

The application has been updated to reflect the January 1, 2026 effective date of PMP24-0641, related to responsibilities for collecting student complaint data as approved during the 2024 SARA Policy Modification Process cycle, as well as other adjustments to be in line with current SARA Policy. For reference, the new policy can be found in the SARA Policy Manual subsection 7.1. “Duties of states” in Section 7 “Complaint Resolution Reporting for SARA Member States.” Additional adjustments are proposed to be in line with sections 4. “Consumer Protection” and subsection 2.5.p “Functional responsibilities of SARA states”.

Please continue to utilize the current application linked above if submitting it by December 31, 2025. Beginning January 1, 2026 and forward please utilize the latest version. For any questions, please contact info@nc-sara.org .

1/1/26 Application and Approval Form for State Membership in SARA

Redline of January 1, 2026 version of Application and Approval Form for State Membership in SARA