Academic Year

The academic year is a standardized measure that affects a number of federal student aid functions, including definitions of eligible programs and payment periods. It is expressed as a minimum number of credit or clock hours accrued over a minimum number of weeks of instructional time. “Academic year” is not to be confused with other measures of time, such as award year (July 1 – June 30), federal fiscal year (October 1 – September 30), or academic calendar (dates set by school).

Related topics in this Index: Program Eligibility; Payment Period

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(a)(2) Definitions [HEA § 481(a)(2)]
Regulations
- 34 CFR 668.3
ED References
See also Subtopics for more specific references.
- 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3
- 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3
NASFAA Publications and Articles
- NASFAA AskRegs Knowledgebase
  Search or browse the Knowledgebase for answers to regulatory and compliance questions submitted by financial aid administrators.
Subtopics
- Academic year (general definition)
  - 668.3(a)
- Annual loan limit timeframe (Direct Loan borrower-based and scheduled academic years)
- Applicability by academic program
  - General rule
    
    686.22(h)
    
    690.63(g)(2)
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
  - Different versions of same academic program
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
- Credit or clock hour component
  - General rule
    
    668.3(a)(2)
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
  - Clock hour definition
    
    See top list entry for Program Eligibility
  - Credit hour definition
    
    See top list entry for Program Eligibility
- Direct assessment program
- Remedial coursework (noncredit or reduced credit) limitation
  - 668.20(d)
  - 668.20(e)
- Reporting to COD
  - Direct Loan
    
    GEN-13-13
    
    Electronic Announcement, 1/17/14
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
  - Pell Grant
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 4, Ch. 2
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 4, Ch. 2
- Weeks of instructional time component
  - General rule
    
    668.3(a)(1)
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
  - Instructional time
    
    668.3(b)(3)
    
    668.8(b)(3)(ii)
    
    Federal Register, 11/29/94, p. 61148
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
  - Reductions
    
    668.3(c)
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
  - Week (definition)
    
    668.3(b)(1), (2)
    
    668.8(b)(2), (3)
    
    Federal Register, 11/1/02, p. 67052
    
    2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1
    
    2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 1

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Academic Year

Statutory Authority

Regulations

ED References

NASFAA Publications and Articles

Subtopics

Academic year (general definition)

Annual loan limit timeframe (Direct Loan borrower-based and scheduled academic years)

Applicability by academic program

General rule

Different versions of same academic program

Credit or clock hour component

General rule

Clock hour definition

Credit hour definition

Direct assessment program

Remedial coursework (noncredit or reduced credit) limitation

Reporting to COD

Direct Loan

Pell Grant

Weeks of instructional time component

General rule

Instructional time

Reductions

Week (definition)