Consumer Information

State Authorization & Distance Education Disclosures

Divine Mercy University's authorization to operate in each state where students are enrolled, including NC-SARA participation, Virginia regulatory status, and per-state student complaint procedures required by 34 CFR §668.43(a)(11).

DMU's regulatory status

Divine Mercy University was formed, chartered, and established in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1998. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — a U.S. Department of Education–recognized accrediting agency — and is therefore exempt from certification or approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

The exemption entitles the University to conduct academic affairs or business without seeking or obtaining SCHEV approval. The resulting scope of institutional autonomy includes:

Offering courses or programs for degree credit
Enrolling students in courses or programs
Conferring or awarding degrees
Initiating other programs for degree credit at a new or additional level
Offering instruction at additional or new locations

NC-SARA participation

Divine Mercy University is an approved institutional participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).

As an approved SARA participant, Divine Mercy University complies with established standards for offering postsecondary distance education courses and programs among SARA member states, districts, and territories. SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state.

Divine Mercy University is authorized to operate in all SARA member states, districts, and territories (49 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and is registered, authorized, or otherwise not subject to approval in any non-SARA states that require such authorization for distance-education programs.

SARA does not address the issue of professional licensure that may, in some states, require additional state-specific approvals. For programs leading to professional licensure (Psy.D., M.S. in Counseling), see the program-specific licensure disclosures linked from this page.

States with restrictions on distance education

California. California is not a member of NC-SARA. DMU is authorized to enroll California residents in its distance-education programs under California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education out-of-state exemption pathway. California students wishing to file a complaint should follow the procedure under "Student complaints" below.

Student complaints

DMU encourages students to resolve concerns directly with the University whenever possible. The complaint process has three escalation paths:

1. Resolve internally first

Students should first attempt to resolve concerns through DMU's internal grievance procedures, documented in the Student Handbook.

2. Accreditor (academic complaints)

For complaints related to academic quality, accreditation standards, or institutional integrity, contact the SACSCOC Commission on Colleges:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097

(404) 679-4500 · www.sacscoc.org

3. State authorization complaints (consumer protection)

For complaints related to the conduct of the institution under state consumer-protection laws, students should contact the relevant agency in their own state of residence. The list below includes the appropriate contact for each U.S. state and territory:

Virginia (DMU's home state) State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) — Private and Out-of-State Postsecondary Education James Monroe Building, 101 N. 14th Street, Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 225-2600 · schev.edu/students

California (non-SARA state) California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education 1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 574-8900 · bppe.ca.gov

All other states (SARA members) For distance-education complaints unresolved at the institutional and SACSCOC levels, students may file with SCHEV (acting as Virginia's SARA portal agency) using the form at schev.edu. SCHEV will coordinate with the student's home state SARA portal as needed.

A complete directory of state SARA portal agencies is maintained by NC-SARA at nc-sara.org/state-portal-agency-contacts.

Professional licensure disclosures

DMU's programs that lead toward state professional licensure (Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Master of Science in Counseling) include state-by-state licensure disclosures:

These disclosures identify, for each U.S. state and territory:

Whether DMU's program meets the educational requirements for licensure in that state
Whether DMU has determined that the program does not meet requirements
Whether DMU has not made a determination

Prospective and current students considering relocation should consult these disclosures before enrolling or before establishing residency in another state.

Last reviewed

This page was last reviewed for compliance with 34 CFR §668.43(a)(11) and the NC-SARA Manual in 2026. For the most current state-by-state authorization status, see nc-sara.org.

For questions about DMU's authorization in a specific state, contact the Registrar at registrar@divinemercy.edu.

SACSCOC accreditation statement

Divine Mercy University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award master's and doctoral degrees. Divine Mercy University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Divine Mercy University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).