Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved without change
03/31/2026
12/17/2025
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2029
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2026
4,248
0
7,686
16,097
0
28,012
953,820
0
0
Section 487(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended, requires that the Secretary of Education prescribe regulations to ensure that any funds postsecondary institutions receive under the HEA are used solely for the purposes specified in and in accordance with the provision of the applicable programs.
Part H, Subpart 3, Section 498 of the HEA of 1965, as amended, gives the Secretary the responsibility for determining qualifications of institutions of higher education to participate in programs under the HEA. To comply with this requirement Section 498(b) of the HEA specified that the Secretary prepare and prescribe a single application form. The Department of Education (the Department) developed the Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs to comply with the statutory requirements of collecting necessary information under the HEA. An institution must use this Application to apply for approval to be determined to be eligible and if the institution wishes, to participate; to expand its eligibility; or to continue to participate in the Title IV programs. An institution must also use the Application to report certain required data as part of its recordkeeping requirements contained in the regulations under 34 C.F.R. Part 600 (Institutional Eligibility under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended).
The Department uses the information reported on the Application in its determination of whether an institution meets the statutory and regulatory requirements. This request is for a revision of the current information collection.
US Code:
20 USC 1094,1099c
Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
Based on the average number of applications received from 2017-2024, the Department is revising the estimated number of responses to 4,248 per year, 3,038 less responses than what is currently approved. The annual burden is now estimated to be 16,097 hours, 8,255 hours less than what is currently approved for this collection.
$710,185
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Carolyn Rose 202 803-1502
Reginfo record details
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
30 Day Comment Response_1845-0012.docx
Comment on Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Aid.pdf
Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Public Institutions