Student Aid Reference Desk | 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 institutio...

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

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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

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Academic Year Administrative Capability Audit and Program Review Cash Management Cohort Default Rate (CDR) Consumer Information Cost of Attendance (COA) Direct Loans Disbursement Enrollment Status Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG) Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) Financial Responsibility of Institutions Institutional Eligibility Loan Counseling Misrepresentation Need Analysis Overawards and Overpayments Packaging Payment Period Pell Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG), and Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship (CFHS) Perkins Loan Program Professional Judgment (PJ) Program Eligibility Program Participation Agreement (PPA) Recordkeeping Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Student Eligibility TEACH Grant Third-Party Servicers Verification Written Arrangements

Statutory Authority

Web URL 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)]

Web URL 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)]

Web URL 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)]

Web URL 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)]

Web URL 34 CFR 668.8

See also Subtopics for more specific references.

Web URL Federal Register, 9/2/20

PDF 2023-24 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, May 2023

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

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

Publications, Articles & Other Resources

PDF An Analysis Of Existing Short-Term Postsecondary Programs

(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)

Web URL Could Short-Term Pell Lead to a Pell Shortfall?

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

(Council for Higher Education Accreditation)

Web URL How Do Education Students Pay for College?

(American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education)

Web URL Program Eligibility AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&As

(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)

Web URL Rethinking What "Quality" Means for Accreditation and Higher Education

(Council for Higher Education Accreditation)

PDF Short-Term Programs In The Shadows

(The Institute for College Access and Success)

PDF State Authorization Memorandum

(Postsecondary National Policy Institute)

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

(Council for Higher Education Accreditation)

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

(National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance)

PDF Title IV Eligibility Checklist

(National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)

Academic year

See top list entry for Academic Year

Clock hour

Definition

Web URL 600.2

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

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

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

Required use of

Web URL 668.8(k)(2), (3)

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

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

Direct assessment program equivalent

Web URL 668.10(a)(3)

Correspondence program

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

Credit hour

Definition

Web URL 600.2

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

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

Web URL GEN-11-06

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

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

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

Conversion from clock hours

Web URL 668.8(k)(1)

Web URL 668.8(l)

Web URL 668.9

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

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

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

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

Direct assessment program equivalent

Web URL 668.10(a)(3)

Out-of-class work

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

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

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

Rounding prohibition

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

Direct assessment program

See Eligible program

Distance education

Web URL 600.2

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

Educational program (definition)

Web URL 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

Web URL GEN-14-22

Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities

Web URL 668.8(n)

Web URL 668.232

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

Definition of eligible program (general)

Web URL 668.8(a)

Direct assessment program

Web URL 668.8(n)

Web URL 668.10

Web URL GEN-14-23

Web URL GEN-13-10

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

Flight training program

Web URL 668.8(i)

Pell Grant-specific criteria

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Web URL 668.8(j)

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

Postbaccalaureate teacher program

Web URL 668.8(h)(1)

Web URL 690.6(c)

Undergraduate program

Web URL 668.8(h)(1)

School’s responsibility to determine program eligibility

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

SEOG-specific criteria

Web URL 668.8(h)(2)

TEACH Grant-specific criteria

Web URL 668.8(h)(3)

Telecommunications program

Definition of distance education

Web URL 600.2

Eligibility criteria

Web URL 668.8(m)

Gainful employment (GE) programs

Web URL 668.14(b)(26)

PDF 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)

Web URL 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)

Web URL 600.2

Qualifying programs

Web URL 668.8(c)

PDF 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)

Web URL 668.8(b)

Qualifying programs

Web URL 668.8(d)

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

Prison Education Program (PEP)

Web URL 600.7(c)

Web URL 668.236

Web URL 668.237

PDF Federal Register, 3/28/23

PDF Federal Register, 11/17/22

Web URL Federal Register, 10/28/22

Web URL Prison Education Programs Q&A, PEP General Questions, PEP-Q6/PEP-A6, PEP-Q25/PEP-A25

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)

Web URL 668.8(b)

Qualifying programs

Web URL 668.8(d)

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

Qualitative factors for short programs (equal to or greater than 300 but less than 600 clock hours) eligible for Direct Loan only

Web URL 668.8(d)(3)

Web URL 668.8(e)

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

Recognized occupation (definition)

Web URL 600.2

Study abroad

Web URL 668.39

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

Week of instruction (definition)

Web URL 668.8(b)(2), (3)

PDF 2023-24 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1, May 2023

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

Written arrangements between schools (consortium and contractual agreements)

See top list entry for Written Agreements

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