Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission

The Hechinger Report found that since 2014, thirty schools have announced their closing with an email or a notice at the school's entrance. The U.S. Department of Education receives school financial information, but the data may be outdated upon receipt. Accrediting agencies may have more timely data, but are inconsistent in their response. Some state monitoring agencies don't have the ability to closely check financial status.[3] According to the Hechinger Report, the GNPEC does more than many other states. The finances of most institutions are checked by an external auditor prior to reauthorization each year.[3] When Argosy University abruptly closed in March 2019, the GNPEC had funding available to provide tuition refunds. However, Georgia law limits the claims to $250,000 for a defaulting institution.[4][5] Federal law requires schools in financial trouble to prepare transition plans for existing students. These Teach-out plans are meant to provide students with alternative schools offering equivalent programs.[3] The GNPEC retains student transcript records for shuttered schools, but cannot access detail records that document student work and are necessary when the student transfers.[3]

The mission of the GNPEC "is to ensure that each authorized nonpublic postsecondary educational institution in Georgia is satisfying its commitments to hardworking Georgians through sound academics and financial stability".[6] All in-state nonpublic and out-of-state postsecondary education institutions that want to operate in the State of Georgia must receive authorization from the GNPEC and renew that authorization in subsequent years. Any business in Georgia that wants to include "university" or "college" in its name is required to obtain permission from GNPEC.[7] Even entities that have no physical presence in Georgia are required to be authorized if they offer their programs to Georgia residents. New York and Washington do not.[2]