The Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Collegiate Unit serves as the state's regulator of both in-state and out-of-state collegiate institutions. It reviews (sets) academic, administrative, faculty, and financial standards for these institutions.  No collegiate institution may operate in Maryland without Commission approval.  Maryland currently regulates 57 in-state collegiate institutions, 40 out-of-state institutions having a physical presence in the state, and over 200 institutions offering distance education programs to Maryland students. On this site, you will find a list of institutions currently operating in Maryland and the programs offered at those institutions. You will also find the approval processes for newly proposed programs as well as applications to establish an in-state institution, to be authorized to operate in Maryland as an out-of-state institution and to be authorized to enroll Maryland students in an out-of-state distance education program. MHEC will serve as the portal agency for the national State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) for Maryland​, beginning January 2016. This initiative 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.​​​