Student Aid Reference Desk | Program Eligibility

Program Eligibility

Academic programs must meet certain criteria, including minimum length, to enable students enrolled in those programs to receive Title IV assistance. An eligible institution consists of its eligible programs.

Related terms: Institutional Eligibility; Student Eligibility

Statutory Authority

U.S. Code, Title 20—Education Chapter 28—Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance Subchapter IV—Student Assistance > Part F—General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs § 1088(b) Definitions [HEA § 481(b)]

U.S. Code, Title 20—Education Chapter 28—Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance Subchapter I—General Provisions > Part A—Definitions § 1001(b)(1) General definition of institution of higher education [HEA § 101(b)(1)]

U.S. Code, Title 20—Education Chapter 28—Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance Subchapter I—General Provisions > Part A—Definitions § 1002(b)(1)(A)(i) Definition of institution of higher education for purposes of student assistance programs; Proprietary Institution of higher education [HEA § 102(b)(1)(A)(i)]

U.S. Code, Title 20—Education Chapter 28—Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance Subchapter I—General Provisions > Part A—Definitions § 1002(c)(1)(A) Definition of institution of higher education for purposes of student assistance programs; Postsecondary vocational institution HEA § 102(c)(1)(A)]

Regulation

34 CFR 668.8

ED References

See also Subtopics for more specific references.

Federal Register, 9/2/20

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, August 2022

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, July 2022

Publications, Articles & Other Resources

An Analysis Of Existing Short-Term Postsecondary Programs

Source: National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Could Short-Term Pell Lead to a Pell Shortfall?

Source: New America

COVID And Change-Adjustments: Can Higher Education Handle Deep Change?

Source: Council for Higher Education Accreditation

How Do Education Students Pay for College?

Source: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education

Program Eligibility AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&As

Source: National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Rethinking What "Quality" Means for Accreditation and Higher Education

Source: Council for Higher Education Accreditation

Short-Term Programs In The Shadows

Source: The Institute for College Access and Success

State Authorization Memorandum

Source: Postsecondary National Policy Institute

Taking Initial Steps: A Path for Rethinking Accreditation and Quality Assurance

Source: Council for Higher Education Accreditation

The Effects of Expanding Pell Grant Eligibility for Short Occupational Training Programs: Results from the Experimental Sites Initiative

Source: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance

Title IV Eligibility Checklist

Source: National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Subtopics

Academic year

See top list entry for Academic Year

Clock hour

Definition

600.2

Federal Register, 9/2/20, pp.54750 to 54751

Electronic Announcement, 5/25/21 (EA ID: GENERAL-21-34)

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Required use of

668.8(k)(2), (3)

Program Integrity Q&A, Credit Hour, CH-Q9/A9 to CH-Q11/A11

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Direct assessment program equivalent

668.10(a)(3)

Correspondence program

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Credit hour

Definition

600.2

Federal Register, 9/2/20, pp. 54753 to 54754

Federal Register, 10/29/10, p. 66844

GEN-11-06

Electronic Announcement, 5/25/21 (EA ID: GENERAL-21-34)

Program Integrity Q&A, Credit Hour, CH-Q1/CH-A1 to CH-Q8/CH-A8

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Conversion from clock hours

668.8(k)(1)

668.8(l)

668.9

Federal Register, 9/2/20, pp. 54774 to 54775

Electronic Announcement, 5/25/21 (EA ID: GENERAL-21-34)

Program Integrity Q&A, Credit Hour, A-Q1/A-A1 to A-Q2/A-A2

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Direct assessment program equivalent

668.10(a)(3)

Out-of-class work

Electronic Announcement, 5/25/21 (EA ID: GENERAL-21-34)

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1, July 2022

Rounding prohibition

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Direct assessment program

See Eligible program

Distance education

600.2

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Educational program (definition)

600.2

Eligible program

See also Institution of higher education (public or private nonprofit), Postsecondary vocational institution, and Proprietary (for profit) institution of higher education

Apprenticeships

GEN-14-22

Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities

668.8(n)

668.232

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Definition of eligible program (general)

668.8(a)

Direct assessment program

668.8(n)

668.10

GEN-14-23

GEN-13-10

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Flight training program

668.8(i)

Pell Grant-specific criteria

English as a Second Language (ESL)

668.8(j)

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Postbaccalaureate teacher program

668.8(h)(1)

690.6(c)

Undergraduate program

668.8(h)(1)

School’s responsibility to determine program eligibility

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

SEOG-specific criteria

668.8(h)(2)

TEACH Grant-specific criteria

668.8(h)(3)

Telecommunications program

Definition of distance education

600.2

Eligibility criteria

668.8(m)

Gainful employment (GE) programs

668.14(b)(26)

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Need for training and relationship between program length and job entry requirements (effective until 6/30/21)

668.14(b)(26)

Institution of higher education (public or private nonprofit)

See also Accreditation or preaccreditation, Admission criteria, Educational program, State, State authorization (“Legally authorized”)

One-academic-year training program (definition)

600.2

Qualifying programs

668.8(c)

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Postsecondary vocational institution

See also Accreditation or preaccreditation, Admissions criteria, Educational program, State, State authorization (“Legally authorized”)

Equivalent of an associate degree (definition)

668.8(b)

Qualifying programs

668.8(d)

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Proprietary (for-profit) institution of higher education

See also Accreditation or preaccreditation, Admissions criteria, Educational program, State, State authorization (“Legally authorized”)

Equivalent of an associate degree (definition)

668.8(b)

Qualifying programs

668.8(d)

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Qualitative factors for short programs (>300 but <600 clock hours) eligible for Direct Loan only

668.8(d)(3)

668.8(e)

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Recognized occupation (definition)

600.2

Study abroad

668.39

2022-23 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, August 2022

Week of instruction (definition)

668.8(b)(2), (3)

Written arrangements between schools (consortium and contractual agreements)

See top list entry for Written Agreements