What Does Dot-Edu Mean?

Among the top-level domain names is .edu.

Dot-edu, also represented as .edu, is a Web domain name used by postsecondary educational institutions in the United States.

Top-Level Domain Names

There is a hierarchy of levels that make up Web domain names. The levels are separated by a period within the domain name. The .edu domain is considered a top-level domain name along with .gov, .org, .com, .net and .mil.

Postsecondary Institutions

Postsecondary institutions represent a level of education provided by universities, colleges and trade schools. UC Berkeley, Rice, Columbia and UCLA were among the first universities to register their .edu domain names.

Eligibility

Only institutions located in the United States are eligible for a .edu domain name. The entire institution has to be accredited by an agency listed on the nationally recognized accrediting agencies published by the U. S. Department of Education and reviewed by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. An accredited program run by an institution that is not itself accredited is not eligible for .edu domain name as the entire institution must be accredited.

References

• Educause: Eligibility for the .edu Domain
• Webcontent.Gov: Glossary