Accountability Definitions

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
PRA Burden Statement_1845-NEW.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-04-17	Available
Supporting Statement_1845-new.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-04-17	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
280004	Accountability Definitions - Public	Other-Regulation	New
280003	Accountability Definitions - Private	Other-Regulation	New
280002	Accountability Definitions - For Profit	Other-Regulation	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202604-1845-011
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: ED/FSA	Agency Tracking No: ED-2026-OPE-0100
Title: Accountability Definitions
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 04/21/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved
Responses	5,626	0
Time Burden (Hours)	1,620,288	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	161,963,988	0

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Abstract: Section 84001 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, modified the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). Proposed regulations stemming from the OBBBA require updates to several regulatory sections. Burden for these sections can be found spread across many currently approved information collection packages. On January 30, 2026, the Department published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) (91 FR 4254) revising 34 CFR Part 685. Specifically, the RISE NPRM proposed to add several new definitions under §685.102: expected time to credential, graduate student, professional student and program length. The OBBBA accountability framework also proposes amending §685.102 by adding new definitions: eligible non-GE program and gainful employment program (GE program). Due to the timing of these regulatory packages, the Department is requesting approval of a new collection to define eligible non-GE program and gainful employment program (GE program). Once regulations are final, the Department will merge 1845-NEW with 1845-0021 William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (DL) Regulations so the burden for §685.102 stays within one information collection without compromising the public’s review of proposed rules and burden of the new accountability framework. This way, all regulations proposed by changes from the OBBBA can be put out for public comment and OMB approval, as we are unable to propose regulatory changes to §685.102 in two separate NPRMs.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 20 USC 1092 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
   US Code: 20 USC 1094 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
   US Code: 20 USC 1099a-3 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
   US Code: 20 USC 1099c Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
   US Code: 20 USC 1091 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 119 - 21 84001 Name of Law: One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1840-AE06	Proposed rulemaking	91 FR 21088	04/20/2026

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Accountability Definitions - For Profit
Accountability Definitions - Private
Accountability Definitions - Public

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	5,626	0	0	5,626	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,620,288	0	0	1,620,288	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	161,963,988	0	0	161,963,988	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a request for a new collection in order to define eligible non-GE program and gainful employment program for purposes of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). We estimate 5,626 responses and 1,620,288 burden hours. Once the Final Rule is published this new collection will be merged with 1845-0021 William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (DL) Regulations in order to keep burden for §685.102 assigned to only one information collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government:

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 04/21/2026

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