A Decade of Data: How SARA Is Strengthening Protections and Expanding Access for Distance Learners

As postsecondary institutions continue to expand their digital learning footprints, understanding the regulatory and consumer-protection landscape has never been more important. SARA plays a central role in that landscape, especially as distance education stabilizes beyond the pandemic and institutions look for efficient, student-centered ways to operate across state lines. To explore the latest data, trends, and protections shaping the field, we spoke with Rachel Christeson, Senior Director of Research and Planning at NC-SARA. NC-SARA is the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, the organization that facilitates collaboration with the four regional compacts to implement the reciprocity agreement, SARA, by the states. With the release of NC-SARA’s newest data report and the 2025 Cost Savings Study, Rachel shares timely insights on institutional participation in SARA, evolving protections for students, and what institutions should watch for in the year ahead.

The data show that as SARA participation by institutions continues to grow, students across all 49 member states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands benefit from consistent and uniform protections for interstate distance education. Institutions are also realizing nearly $1 billion in authorization cost savings, allowing them to maintain these protections while offering programs across state lines. Rachel also highlights the efforts of SARA’s closures and complaints working groups, which are strengthening oversight and improving outcomes for online learners. With a decade of data now in hand and major policy initiatives underway, SARA is positioning states and institutions to navigate an increasingly complex digital learning landscape. [...]