New Students

Welcome to online learning at Valdosta State!  If you’re visiting this page you:

  • received an admission letter or email from the Admissions Office.
  • spoke with your advisor and are trying to determine what to do next.
  • have questions about the systems that you will use as a VSU student.

Here are a few links to help you get started:

State Distance Education Regulation Approval

The United States Government and individual states mandate that higher education institutions offering distance or correspondence education have the approval of each state to operate in that state. Valdosta State University is working in good-faith to obtain authorization in all states. However not all states may have granted authorization, so we strongly recommend that our prospective distance education students contact either the VSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions or the VSU Graduate School to determine whether VSU is authorized to provide Postsecondary education in your state.

NC-SARA

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts.  If you would like to know more please visit the National Council or State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements website. 

State Authorization Table (last update 3-24-16)

States approved (where NC-SARA applies)

GA institutions approved

Benefits to students