What’s Changing With the Application Fee?

The initial BPPE application fee, the fee institutions pay when applying for Approval to Operate, is increasing from $5,000 to $12,000. We currently reference this fee across our site as part of the cost of starting a school in California, and it hasn’t changed since 2009.

This change is part of AB 2771, the BPPE’s sunset bill (the legislation that renews the Bureau’s authority to operate for another five years). It’s passed the Legislature but hasn’t been signed into law yet, though that’s expected soon. If it’s signed as expected, the new fee would take effect January 1, 2027. We’ll update this post if anything changes before then.

Why Is the Fee Increasing?

The short version: it costs the Bureau more to review an application than $5,000 covers. In its own analysis, the Bureau estimated that the actual workload cost of processing an application for a non-accredited institution is around $12,500-14,000. BPPE fees fund the Bureau’s operations, and the current fee structure hasn’t kept pace with the cost of doing that work, which is part of why this increase is moving forward as part of the sunset review process.

What Should You Do Now?

If you’re planning to start a school in California and haven’t submitted your BPPE application yet, this is worth factoring into your timeline and budget:

  • If you can reasonably submit before the fee increase takes effect, you’ll pay the current $5,000 rate.
  • If your timeline extends past January 1, 2027, budget for the higher fee now so it doesn’t catch you off guard.
  • This is also a good moment to make sure the rest of your application is genuinely ready to go. Application fees are generally non-refundable, so a strong first submission matters more than ever.

Where Can I Learn More?

You can track AB 2771’s progress on the California Legislature’s website, and review the Bureau’s own analysis in its Sunset Review Report 2026 (PDF).

If you’re weighing whether to submit your BPPE application now or wait, get in touch with us. We can help you figure out a realistic timeline and make sure your application is ready to go. Learn more about how we help with BPPE applications here.