Office of Degree Authorization

The Office of Degree Authorization is required by statute "to provide for the protection of the citizens of Oregon and their postsecondary schools by ensuring the quality of higher education and preserving the integrity of an academic degree as a public credential." ODA administers laws, standards, and services that protect students, holders of legitimately earned degrees, institutions, businesses, employers, patients or clients, and licensing boards.

The ODA authorizes approved schools (under OAR 583-030) to offer academic degree programs, validates individual claims of degree possession, terminates substandard or fraudulent degree activities, and reviews proposed new publicly funded postsecondary programs and locations (under OAR 583-040), disapproving those that would cause duplication detrimental to other segments of education.

An individual may claim to possess an academic degree only if it has been awarded by a school that has accreditation recognized by the United States Department of Education, or the foreign equivalent of such accreditation, or otherwise has authorization to offer and confer degrees in Oregon. Certain unaccredited degrees may be used with a disclaimer.

If you have questions, please call Alan Contreras, ODA Administrator at (541) 687-7452 or visit the ODA Website to learn more about the regulatory arm of the Student Assistance Commission and what is being done to prevent degree mills and the use of fraudulent degrees in the State of Oregon.