Education TLDs: Guide to Domains for Educational Institutions 

Key takeaways:  

1. Choosing the right education TLD can influence your online credibility and visibility in search engines. 
2. While .edu is a classic choice, many new educational TLDs now provide excellent options for diverse educational initiatives. 
3. Carefully choosing your domain and TLD helps you avoid migrations and boosts your educational mission from day one. 

A top-level domain (TLD) or domain extension is the last segment of a domain name—the part that comes after the final dot. For example, in google.com, .com is the TLD. TLDs categorize websites, giving users a clue about the site’s purpose, origin, or industry. 

For educational institutions and online learning platforms, choosing the right top-level domain (TLD) will influence reach, trust, and credibility. 

This guide will walk you through education TLDs, helping you choose one for your digital learning space: 

1. Which education TLDs are best for my site? 
2. Who can use .edu and other traditional education TLDs? 
3. How can you register education TLDs? 
4. Which TLD is right for your education site? 
5. Tips for choosing a domain name for your education site 
6. Secure your education TLD now with Network Solutions 
7. Frequently asked questions 

What are education TLDs and why do they matter? 

Education TLDs are domain extensions for websites that belong to entities providing educational services. These range from highly restricted, prestigious TLDs like .edu to more broadly available and descriptive options such as .school, .academy, and .courses. These TLDs show that a website is for learning, instruction, or academic pursuits. 

Which education domain extensions are best for my site? 

The best TLD for your education site depends on your organization’s type, accreditation status, and goals. Here’s an overview of education TLDs and their applications. 

• .edu: The classic education TLD, reserved almost exclusively for accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. 
• .org: Originally for non-profits, .org is widely used by educational organizations, community groups, and non-accredited schools due to its association with non-commercial ventures and trust. 
• .school: A versatile and descriptive TLD perfect for K-12 schools, specialized academies, and online learning platforms. 
• .academy: Good for institutions with specialized training or vocational education. 
• .college: Clearly links to colleges and pre-college programs. 
• .university: Excellent for higher education institutions, particularly those that grant degrees. 
• .courses: Effective for platforms offering online courses, workshops, or training modules. 
• .study: A broad option for study guides, tutoring services, research groups, or general educational materials. 
• .institute: Suitable for research institutes, training centers, or specialized educational bodies. 
• .training: Clear and concise for vocational training programs, corporate training, or certification bodies. 
• .education: A broad and encompassing TLD for educational content, resource, or service. 
• .k12: A specific TLD for elementary and secondary schools. 

For many educational entities that don’t qualify for .edu, other newer, more specific education TLDs like .education or .academy are worth considering if they fit your offering. 

Who can use .edu and other traditional education TLDs? 

The .edu domain is a sponsored TLD administered by EDUCAUSE. It is specifically intended for U.S. higher education institutions. To qualify for a .edu domain, an institution must meet the following criteria. 

• Institutional accreditation. The institution must be accredited by an agency on recognized by and listed by the U.S. Department of Education. 
• Postsecondary education. It must be a degree-granting institution of higher education. 
• Non-profit. Institutions must generally be non-profit, although some exceptions exist for for-profit institutions that meet specific criteria. 

Eligibility requirements for .edu, .ac.uk, and other restricted domains 

• .edu: As detailed above, strict accreditation and postsecondary status are required in the U.S. 
• .ac. uk: Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), a not-for-profit UK organization, sets specific criteria for academic institutions in the United Kingdom, requiring recognized educational status. 
• Other country-specific education TLDs: Many countries have similar restricted TLDs (e.g., .edu.au in Australia, .ac.in in India) with their own unique requirements, such as government recognition or national accreditation bodies. 

Can individuals or online-only schools use .edu? 

Individuals or typical online-only schools that are not accredited postsecondary institutions cannot use a .edu domain. The .edu TLD is reserved for established, accredited U.S. universities and colleges. While an individual tutor or a commercial online course platform might offer educational content, they do not meet the strict requirements for a .edu domain. 

How to register your education TLDs 

You can register many generic education TLDs through any reputable domain registrar, such as Network Solutions. We offer various education-specific TLDs, where you can easily search for availability and register your desired education domain directly. 

However, the process differs for restricted domains like .edu or country-specific academic TLDs. Here’s how you register a restricted domain like .edu, with additional steps and links specific to registering with Network Solutions: 

1. Identify the registry. First, determine the specific registry responsible for that TLD. It’s EDUCAUSE for .edu and Jisc for .ac.uk. 
2. Review eligibility requirements. Visit the registry’s official website for its eligibility criteria; they’re often very detailed and non-negotiable. 
3. Prepare documentation. Gather all documentation to prove your institution’s accreditation or other required qualifications. 
4. Follow the application process. The registry process may involve submitting forms and documentation. Afterward, wait for approval before you can register through a registrar. 
5. Visit the Network Solutions website. Go to NetworkSolutions.com. 
6. Search for your education domain name. Use the Domain Name Search tool to find your domain name. 
7. Proceed to checkout. If your desired domain is available, add it to your cart. 
8. Choose your registration term. Select how long you want to register the domain and explore other offerings like web hosting or Domain Privacy + Protection. 
9. Enter your payment information. Provide the necessary payment details to finalize your purchase. 

Note: Please refer to more details at How to Register a Domain Name (2025 Guide). 

Tips for choosing a domain name for your education site 

Aside from TLDs, the actual domain name is important for branding, memorability and searchability. Here are some tips when choosing education TLDs: 

• Keep it short and memorable. Shorter names are easier to type, remember, and share.
• Make it relevant. For example, if you’re a tutoring service, math-tutor.study is clearer than random-help.com. 
• Avoid hyphens and numbers. While sometimes necessary, they can make a domain harder to recall and prone to typos. 
• Check for availability. Always prepare several alternatives since your first choice may not always be available. You can check Network Solutions’ AI Domain Generator to help you come up with alternatives, in case your first-choice domain isn’t available.  

Secure your education TLD now with Network Solutions 

Whether you’re an accredited university, a thriving online course platform, or a dedicated tutor, the right TLD enhances your credibility, improves your branding, and helps your audience find you. To help you start, Network Solutions offers a wide array of education TLDs, including .education, .school, .academy, .courses, .study, and many more. 

With competitive pricing and robust domain management tools, we can help you secure the right domain for your educational platform. Don’t let your perfect domain slip away—search and register your education TLD now. 

Frequently asked questions