Institutional Eligibility

• Statutory Authority

  • U.S. Code, Title 20—Education Chapter 28—Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance Subchapter I—General Provisions > Part A—Definitions §§ 1001 – 1003 [HEA §§ 101 – 103]
  • U.S. Code, Title 20—Education Chapter 28—Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance Subchapter IV—Student Assistance > Part H—Program Integrity, Subpart 3—Eligibility and Certification Procedures § 1099c Eligibility and certification procedures [HEA § 498]

• Regulations

  • 34 CFR Part 600

• ED References

  See also Subtopics for more specific references.

  • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2
  • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2
  • ED’s E-App Web Page

• NASFAA Publications and Articles

  • NASFAA AskRegs Knowledgebase

    Search or browse the Knowledgebase for answers to regulatory and compliance questions submitted by financial aid administrators.

  • NASFAA Compliance Engine

    The Compliance Engine is comprised of two modules: the Self-Evaluation Checklists which allows administrators to evaluate their programs in a centralized, shared online space, and the P&P Builder, a tool designed to assist institutions in the creation and maintenance of a policies and procedures manual. Along with an online space to update and maintain policies and procedures, the P&P Builder includes legislation and regulation associated with compliance with Title IV requirements.

• Subtopics

  • Accreditation or preaccreditation

    • Change of accrediting agency

      • 600.11(a)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

    • Definitions of “Accredited,” “Nationally recognized accrediting agency,” and “Preaccredited”

      • 600.2
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Institution of higher education (public and private nonprofit)

      • General requirement

        • 600.4(a)(5)

      • Arbitration stipulation

        • 600.4(c)

    • Multiple accreditation, primary accreditor, and programmatic accrediting agencies

      • 600.11(b)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Postsecondary vocational institution

      • General requirement

        • 600.6(a)(5)

      • Arbitration stipulation

        • 600.6(d)

    • Proprietary (for profit) institution of higher education

      • General requirement

        • 600.5(a)(6)

      • Arbitration stipulation

        • 600.5(d)

    • Religious exception

      • 600.11(d)

    • TEACH Grant accreditation

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

  • Additional locations

    See also Expanding eligibility

    • 600.32

  • Admissions criteria

    • Dually enrolled in high school and college

      • GEN-08-12 Attachment, p. 24
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • High school diploma

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Home-schooled students

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Institution of higher education (public and private nonprofit)

      • 600.4(a)(2)

    • Postsecondary vocational institution

      • 600.6(a)(2)

    • Proprietary (for profit) institution of higher education

      • 600.5(a)(3)

    • Recognized equivalent of a high school diploma (definition)

      • 600.2
      • GEN-14-06

    • Regular student (definition)

      • 600.2

  • Application and reapplication procedures

    See also Recertification

    • 600.20

  • Branch campus

    • General rules

      • 600.8
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

    • Adding branches

      • 600.20(c)(4)

    • Conversion of location to branch campus

      • 600.20(c)(5)

    • Definition of branch campus

      • 600.2

  • Change in ownership and control

    • General rules

      • 600.31
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

    • Preacquisition review

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

    • Temporary approval for continued participation

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

  • Conditions of ineligibility and loss of eligibility

    • Bankruptcy

      • 600.7(a)(2)

    • Change in ownership and control

      • 600.31(a)

    • Cohort default rate

      • 668.206
      • 690.7(d)
      • GEN-14-03

        Impact of Cohort Default Rates on Institutional Title IV Program Eligibility

    • Correspondence course limitation

      • 600.7(a)(1)(i)
      • 600.7(b)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4

    • Correspondence student limitation

      • 600.7(a)(1)(ii)
      • 600.7(b)
      • 600.7(e)(1)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4

    • End of institutional participation in Title IV programs: General information

      • 668.26

    • Expiration of program participation agreement

      • 600.20(f)
      • 668.14(g)

    • Fraud or crimes involving acquisition, use, or expenditure of Title IV funds

      • 600.7(a)(3)

    • Incarcerated student limitation

      • 600.7(a)(1)(iii)
      • 600.7(c)
      • 600.7(e)(1)
      • 600.7(e)(2)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4

    • Location ceases to be part of a participating institution

      • 668.14(h)

    • Loss of accreditation or preaccreditation

      • 600.11(c)

    • Loss of eligibility: General rules

      • 600.40

    • Notifications and reports to ED due to loss of eligibility

      • 600.7(h)
      • 690.7(e)

    • Regular student admitted without high school credential limitation

      • 600.7(a)(1)(iv)
      • 600.7(d)
      • 600.7(e)(1)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4

    • Substantiation through audit

      • 600.7(g)

    • Termination by ED or the institution and emergency actions by ED

      • 600.41
      • 668.14(f)

    • Unpaid commitments of Title IV aid to students

      • 668.26(d)
      • 690.7(c)

  • Date, extent, duration of eligibility

    • 600.10

  • Drug abuse prevention program

    • 668.14(c)

  • Educational program

    See also top list entry for Program Eligibility
    See also Expanding eligibility

    • Definition

      • 600.2

    • Institution of higher education

      • 600.4(a)(4)

    • Postsecondary vocational institution

      • 600.6(a)(4)

    • Proprietary institution of higher education

      • 600.5(a)(5)
      • 600.5(e)

  • Eligible institution (definition)

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

    • General definition

      • 600.2

    • Sum of eligible programs only

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4

  • Eligible nonparticipating school designation (for loan deferment and other purposes)

    • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
    • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

  • Expanding eligibility

    See also Additional locations, Branch campus, Educational program

    • Adding locations

      • 600.20(c)(1)
      • 600.21(d)
      • 600.32(d)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

    • Adding programs after designation as eligible institution

      • 600.10(c)
      • 600.20(c)(3)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

    • Increasing level of educational programs

      • 600.20(c)(2)

  • Foreign institution

    • 600.51 to 600.58

  • Institution of higher education (public or private nonprofit)

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

    • Definition and requirements

      • 600.4
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Definition of “Nonprofit institution”

      • 600.2

    • Simultaneous qualification as postsecondary vocational institution

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

  • Limitations imposed on eligibility due to compliance problems

    • 600.41

  • Postsecondary vocational institution

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

    • Definition and requirements

      • 600.6
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Two-year rule

      • 600.6(a)(6), (b)
      • 600.32(c)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

  • Program participation agreement

    See top list entry for Program Participation Agreement

  • Proprietary (for-profit) institution of higher education

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

    • 90/10 rule

      • 668.14(b)(16)
      • 668.28
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 4

    • Definition and requirements

      • 600.5
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Two-year rule

      • 600.5(a)(7), (b)
      • 600.32(c)
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

  • Provisional certification

    • 668.13(c)
    • 668.13(d)

  • Public or private nonprofit institution in Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau

    • 668.33(b)(2)

  • Qualification to participate in Title IV programs

    • 600.10(e)

  • Recertification

    • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
    • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

  • Regaining institutional eligibility

    • 600.7(i)

  • Reporting substantive changes

    • General information

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

    • Changes not requiring written approval from ED

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

    • Changes requiring written approval from ED

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 5

  • State

    • Definition

      • 600.2

    • Location in

      • Institution of higher education

        • 600.4(a)(1)
        • 600.4(b)

      • Postsecondary vocational institution

        • 600.6(a)(1)
        • 600.6(c)

      • Proprietary (for-profit) institution of higher education

        • 600.5(a)(2)
        • 600.5(c)

  • State authorization (“Legally authorized”)

    See also State (Definition)

    • General rules

      • 600.9
      • Federal Register, 7/3/18
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Definition of “Legally authorized”

      • 600.2

    • Exceptions

      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

    • Institution of higher education

      • 600.4(a)(3)

    • Postsecondary vocational institution

      • 600.6(a)(3)

    • Proprietary institution of higher education

      • 600.5(a)(4)

    • Student complaint process

      • GEN-14-04
      • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
      • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

  • TEACH Grant additional requirements

    • 2018-19 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1
    • 2017-18 FSA Handbook, Vol. 2, Ch. 1

  • Updating application information

    • 600.21