Domain .edu - gTLD

.edu domain information

Crucial Eligibility Notice: Registration in the .edu TLD is strictly restricted to postsecondary institutions institutionally accredited by an agency on the U.S. Department of Education's official list. Non-U.S. organizations and non-accredited entities are not eligible to register a .edu domain.

Who can register a .edu domain name?

Since October 29, 2001, the .edu sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) has been reserved exclusively for United States-affiliated higher education institutions. To qualify, your organization must be fully accredited by a recognized U.S. accrediting body. Grandfathered domains registered before 2001 are the only exception to this rule.

The .edu registry is administered by EDUCAUSE — a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing higher education through technology. Eligibility is verified during the registration process, and institutions must provide proof of accreditation.

In practice, this means schools, colleges, and universities outside the United States — as well as non-accredited private entities — cannot register a .edu domain, regardless of their educational focus.

Looking for academic domains outside the U.S.?

Don't worry — there are excellent alternatives available for educational projects worldwide, without any accreditation requirements. These extensions are open to everyone, with no restrictions — perfect for schools, online courses, and educational platforms anywhere in the world:

.academy — Ideal for private schools, online academies, and training programs.

.courses — A strong choice for e-learning platforms and course creators.

.school — Excellent for language schools and primary education projects.

.education — A universal extension for any educational initiative.

Why is the .edu domain so highly trusted?

Despite its limited availability, the .edu domain carries significant authority — and understanding why helps explain the value of educational domain extensions in general.

Unmatched search engine authority

Search engines treat links from .edu websites as highly valuable signals of trust and relevance. This is a direct result of the strict eligibility criteria — because only verified institutions can obtain a .edu domain, the entire namespace carries an inherent level of credibility that generic domains simply cannot match.

Absolute protection against domain squatting

The rigorous verification process makes .edu one of the most secure namespaces on the internet. The risk of phishing, brand impersonation, or domain squatting within the .edu TLD is virtually nonexistent — which is why institutions that do qualify protect their .edu domain carefully.

Information about the .edu domain registry

.edu - generic top-level domain (gTLD)

The available domain TLDs: .edu

Registry: EDUCAUSE

Website: http://www.educause.edu/edudomain

Public WHOIS server: whois.educause.edu