Use CalMatters’s lookup tool to see if a career college or training program is licensed or has faced disciplinary actions. (CalMatters/Gabriel Hongsdusit)
- California requires most private postsecondary institutions to be licensed by a state bureau.
- Check a school's disciplinary history with the state bureau, accreditors, or federal agencies.
- Some schools are exempt from state oversight due to low tuition, short courses, or accreditation.
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By Ross Teixeira, Erica Yee, and Adam Echelman, CalMatters
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
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Licensed
To operate, private institutions of higher education in California are required to obtain a license from the state’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, with some exceptions. The bureau provides less oversight of private nonprofits like Stanford and for-profit schools like the University of Phoenix mostly because they grant degrees and are under the purview of independent accrediting bodies, which have their own stringent standards. Other private schools, such as Goodwill’s career services programs, are also exempt from the bureau’s oversight because they charge low tuition or because the classes are short and don’t yield a degree or certificate. (Data source)
Disciplinary History
California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education regularly inspects schools and investigates any complaints. If necessary, the bureau can discipline institutions, including revoking their licenses to operate. (Data source)
Accrediting Agency
Accredited institutions go through a separate regulatory and disciplinary process, which is generally outside the state’s purview. In their independent reviews, accredited agencies are required to disclose issues to the state. (Data source)
U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education oversees federal student programs, including financial aid awards and loans, and monitors or disciplines schools that participate in those programs. If the federal government investigates or disciplines a school, the state discloses that information. (Data source)
Civil or Criminal Cases
The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education monitors and discloses any lawsuits that affect California’s schools. (Data source)
This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.
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