The regulation of nonpublic and public postsecondary institutions was studied by the North Carolina Legislative Research Commission. Attention was directed to the following concerns: whether regulation of all postsecondary degree-granting education is needed; whether regulation could best be provided by a governmental licensing process or by a nongovernmental, voluntary accreditation process; and the merit of proposed legislation (House Bill 988), which would provide for licensing certain nonpublic postsecondary institutions not subject to state law or regulation. Findings include the following: the need for regulation of nonpublic and public degree-granting education has grown during recent years; minimal standards guaranteed by regulation must extend to both in-state institutions and out-of-state institutions offering in-state field-based education; mandatory governmental licensing is the only process that can guarantee that institutions are meeting minimum standards; and House Bill 988 accomplishes the legislative intent to provide for licensing postsecondary degree-granting education not otherwise regulated. Appendices include the text of relevant legislation, including House Bill 988, and background materials submitted to the Commission, including six articles. (SW)