How to Register .Edu Domain Names

Domain names ending in .edu are reserved for eligible post-secondary institutions.

Domain names ending in .edu are regulated by the United States Department of Commerce. In 2001, the Department of Commerce assigned the role of managing domain names ending in .edu to the nonprofit organization Educause. Domain names ending in .edu are usually reserved for post-secondary institutions that meet strict eligibility requirements. To apply for a .edu domain name, you must represent an educational institution that meets the standards of the Department of Commerce.

Instructions

1. Click the ".edu Eligibility" link in the References section at the bottom of the page. Review the requirements carefully to make sure that the institution you are representing qualifies for a domain name ending in .edu.

   The Educause eligibility requirements state that:

   "Only U.S. postsecondary institutions that are institutionally accredited by an agency on the U.S. Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies (see recognized accrediting bodies) may obtain an Internet name in the .edu domain. These include both "Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies" and "National Institutional and Specialized Accrediting Bodies" recognized by the U.S. Department of Education."

2. Use the "Domain name availability" link in the reference section to see if the domain name you desire is available. Type in the name you are planning to request in the ".edu Domain Name Availability Lookup" text box near the bottom of the page. If the domain name is already taken, you must choose another domain name. When you choose a name that is available, you will be taken to another screen.

3. Click on the "Request This Domain" button to begin you application. You will then be taken to a page titled "Is Your Institution Eligible?" The first option you have is to search for your institution by name, city and state. The second option is to search by accrediting agency. The third option is to search by institutions outside of the united states. Search for your institution.

4. Click on your institution name after pressing the "Search" button. If your institution does not appear in the search, make sure that you are accredited by one of the approved accreditation agencies. In the new page, create a new password, reenter it, and click "Next."

5. Confirm that the address that shows up for the institution is correct and click "Next." You will be asked to provide several contacts including billing, technical and administrative contact. Continue through the contact steps until you reach the final page. Confirm that all of the entered information is correct and click "Submit." Your application will then be sent for review and verification by Educase. If approved, your .edu domain name registration is complete.

References

• .edu Eligibility
• Request a New Domain