Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Program Compliance, School Eligibility Channel, 

School Participation Management Division 

Introduction 

What is this document?

When must an institution submit this application?

How is this application organized?

Why is there a glossary?

Paperwork Reduction Statement

Privacy Act Disclosure Notice

How to complete this application

What is your status during our review period?

What if you have questions? 

What is this document? 

This is an application that a postsecondary educational institution must complete and submit to the U.S. 

Department of Education: 

 to be approved for the first time (initial certification) to participate in federal student financial aid 

programs, 

 to be approved following a change of ownership, a conversion to a nonprofit institution, or a 

merger of two or more institutions (referred to as a "change in ownership or structure" for the 

remainder of this application) to participate in federal student financial aid programs, 

 to be reapproved (recertification) to participate in federal student financial aid programs, 

 to be designated as an "eligible institution" under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 

(HEA), so that its students may receive deferments under federal student loan programs, or so that 

the institution may apply to participate in federal HEA programs other than student financial aid 

programs, including the Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits, 

 to be reinstated to participate in federal student financial aid programs. 

When must an institution submit this application? 

An institution (referred to as "you" for the remainder of this application) must submit this application to 

the U.S. Department of Education (referred to as "we" for the remainder of this application) when: 

 You wish to be initially certified to participate in federal student financial aid programs. 

 You undergo a change of ownership or structure and you wish to participate in federal student 

financial aid programs. You must notify us no later than 10 calendar days after the change 

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becomes effective. If this due date falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, you may submit the 

notification no later than the next business day. After you receive your state and accrediting 

agency approvals, submit this application and mail copies of the approvals to us. We encourage 

you to complete your application and submit it as soon as possible. 

 You wish to be recertified to continue to participate in federal student financial aid programs. You 

should submit this fully completed application before the expiration date in your Program 

Participation Agreement (PPA). If you submit your application to us no later than 90 calendar 

days before your PPA expires, your eligibility to participate in federal student financial aid 

programs continues until your application is either approved or denied. This is true even if we do 

not complete our evaluation of your application before the PPA expiration date. (For example, if 

your PPA expires on June 30 and you submit your application by March 31, you will remain 

certified during our review period even if our review extends beyond June 30.) If the 90th day 

before your PPA's expiration falls on a weekend or a federal holiday and you submit your 

application no later than the next business day, we will consider the application to be submitted 90 

calendar days before your PPA expires. 

 You wish to become eligible so that your students may receive deferments under federal student 

loan programs, or so that you may participate in federal HEA programs other than student 

financial aid programs, including the Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits. 

or 

 You wish to be reinstated to participate in federal student financial aid programs. 

We will consider your date of submission to be the date you used the "Submit Application" page to 

electronically submit the application to us. 

How is this application organized? 

This application is divided into 13 sections, plus a glossary at the end. 

 Section A through Section D contain general questions about your institution. 

 Section E and Section F contain questions about your educational programs and locations. 

 Section G contains questions about your correspondence (corr) courses, students enrolled under 

ability-to-benefit provisions, and incarcerated students. 

 Section H is for institutions that are initial applicants, institutions with a change in ownership or 

structure, and institutions seeking reinstatement. 

 Section I is for foreign institutions, including foreign graduate medical schools. 

 Section J contains questions about your third-party servicers including your ability to benefit 

tester. 

 Section K contains questions about your administrative capability and your financial 

responsibility. 

 Section L must be signed by your President/CEO/Chancellor and mailed to us. 

 Section M contains a list of documents you must send to us with the signature page (Section L). 

 Glossary 

Note: To expand on any of your answers, you may use Question 69. 

Why is there a glossary? 

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We mean a specific definition for many of the words and phrases in this application, such as "regular 

student," "award year," and "federal student financial aid programs." When filling out the application, 

you must be sure that you know how terms are defined. The definitions contained in the glossary 

generally are restatements of statutory or regulatory definitions. 

Paperwork Reduction Statement 

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of

information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this 

information collection is 1845-0012. The time required to complete this information collection is 

estimated to average 17 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing 

data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have 

any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving this 

form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, 830 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-

5402. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this 

form, write directly to: School Participation Management Division, U.S. Department of Education, 830 

First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-5402. 

Privacy Act Disclosure Notice 

Thank you for visiting our Web site. Postsecondary institutions use the E-APP to apply or designation as 

an eligible institution, initial participation, recertification, reinstatement, change in ownership, or to 

update a current approval. Updates include changes such as, but not limited to, name or address change, 

new location or program, increased level of offering, change of officials, or mailing address for 

publications. This includes information about the school’s name, address, locations, programs, officials, 

authorizing agencies, owners and servicers. We only collect information that we need to determine if the 

institution is eligible, and if applicable, certified to participate in the Title IV, HEA programs. The 

information that is being requested is mandated by the Higher Education Act and Title 31 as amended 

by Section 31001 of Public Law 104-134 of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. Section 

498A(a)(3) of the HEA requires the Secretary to establish a central database of information on 

institutional accreditation, eligibility, and certification that include all information available to the 

Department. Section 498A(c) instructs the Secretary to make this information available to all institutions 

of higher education, guaranty agencies, states, and other organizations participating in the programs 

authorized under Title IV of the HEA. Please note: the Application requests the Social Security 

numbers (SSNs) of the owners of the institutions. The SSNs are used to determine institutional 

eligibility and to verify identities. The SSNs are collected under the authority of the Debt Collection 

Improvement Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-134. This act requires Federal agencies to secure the TIN (the 

Social Security Number, for individuals) of persons "doing business with the agency," a term that 

includes being "in a relationship with the agency that may give rise to a receivable due that agency." 31 

U.S.C. §7701(c)(1), (2)(E). Due to security concerns, U.S. Department of Education is not collecting 

SSNs on this website at this time. Instead, if applicable, you must submit your SSNs to U.S. Department 

of Education by writing them on Section M of the application. 

No cookies or other tracking technology are used on the website. 

If you decide to send us an electronic mail message (e-mail), the message will usually contain our return 

e-mail address. I you include personally identify information in your e-mail because you want us to 

address issues specific to your situation, we may use that information in responding to your request. 

This information is not maintained in a privacy act system of records. Also e-mail is not necessarily 

secure against interception. Please send only information necessary to help us process your application.

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If you chose not to submit an Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid 

Programs, the institution cannot be determined to be eligible or continued to be eligible for the Title IV 

FSA programs. 

Please contact us at U. S. Department of Education, Student Federal Aid, 830 First Street, NE, 

Washington, DC 20002-5402, or call 1-800 872-5327, or email us at customerservice@inet.ed.gov to 

ask any questions regarding our Privacy Policy and our Privacy Statement. 

How to complete this application 

Step 

1: 

You must have an OPE ID assigned by the U.S. Department of Education to use the Electronic 

Application. Read each section that you are required to complete and identify the kinds of 

information and documents you will need to collect. Note that you will not have to complete 

every section of the application. Determine the information that you need from other offices and 

request it. At the time of your request, also ask those offices to notify you if the information 

changes. 

Step 

2:

Gather the information and fill out the application. Refer to the Help Page for additional 

assistance in filling out the electronic application. 

Step 

3: 

If you have any questions, please contact the appropriate School Participation Team (listed at the 

end of this Introduction) by telephone, fax, or Internet. 

Step 

4: 

After you have filled out your application, you must submit it electronically. For your electronic 

application to be considered submitted to U.S. Department of Education, you must: 

 Click on the Submit the Application link from the Index page or Section M (there is also a 

submit option available from the bottom of each application page). 

 If there are any edit errors on the application or if any required fields have not been entered, 

messages will display to indicate what changes are required with hot links to follow to 

access the appropriate section of the application directly. 

 If all required entries have been made on your application and all edit errors have been 

corrected, a "Submit Application" button will display. 

 Click on this button to submit your application to U.S. Department of Education 

 A page will display with the message "Your application has been received by the U.S. 

Department of Education." to verify that the application has been submitted. 

 If you need to make additional changes to your application after it is submitted the first 

time, follow this same process to resubmit the application after completing the changes. 

Step 

5: 

Have the President/CEO/Chancellor of your institution review the application and sign the 

signature page (Section L). 

Step 

6: 

Keep a copy of the application and the required supporting documentation for your records (see 

Section M for a list of attachments required with your application). 

Step 

7: 

Send the signature page (Section L) and copies of required supporting documents to us. Do not 

mail the rest of the application to U.S. Department of Education. 

Send the signature page and copies of required supporting documents to the following address 

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Depending on the outcome of our review, either we will send you a Program Participation Agreement to 

sign (and further instructions) or we will notify you that your application is denied. 

What is your status during our review period? 

During our review period, your status will be as follows: 

 If you have never been certified, you will not be considered certified during our review period. 

or 

 If you change ownership or structure, the Secretary may continue the institution's participation on 

a provisional basis, provided that the institution under the new ownership submits a "materially 

complete application" that is received by the Secretary no later than 10 business days after the 

change occurs. 

or 

 If you were certified, you will remain certified during our review period if you submit your 

application during the correct time frame described earlier. 

or 

 If you never have been an eligible institution under the HEA, you will not be considered eligible 

during our review period. 

or 

 If you once participated in federal student financial aid programs but no longer do so, you will not 

be considered certified during our review period. 

What if you have questions? 

(To assist in the processing of your application, please send all supporting documents via 

commercial overnight delivery.): 

 

U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid 

Program Compliance 

Integrated Partner Management Division 

830 First Street, NE 

Washington, DC 20202-5402 

 We recommend that you retain proof of when you submit the application. 

Step 

8: 

Respond to any additional questions that we might have about your application during our review 

period. You will receive any such requests generally within 90 days of our receiving your 

application. We might ask for materials, such as your catalog or copies of contracts with thirdparty servicers. We also will use information from documents on file that you already submitted 

to us. 

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For additional help in filling out the Electronic Application, refer to the Help Document 

If you have questions, please contact the appropriate School Participation Team by telephone, fax or 

Internet. 

If you are a foreign institution or foreign graduate medical school, contact the School Participation 

Foreign School Team at: 

Telephone: (202) 377-3168 

Fax: (202) 275-3486 

Email: SPT 

For all other schools contact the appropriate School Participation Team identified below. 

If you are located in... Contact the... by 

telephone... by fax... or by Email... 

Alabama Atlanta Team (404)974-9303 (404)974-

9322 SPT 

Alaska SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (206)615-2594 (206)615-2508 SPT 

American Samoa SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

Arizona SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

Arkansas Dallas Team (214)661-9490 (214)661-

9662 SPT 

California SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

Canal Zone New York/Boston Team (646)428-3750 (646)428-

3742 SPT 

Colorado Denver Team (303)844-3677 (303)844-

4695 SPT 

Connecticut New York/Boston Team (617)289-0133 (617)289-

0153 SPT 

Delaware Philadelphia Team (215)656-6442 (215)656-

6499 SPT 

District of Columbia Philadelphia Team (215)656-6442 (215)656-

6499 SPT 

Federated States of 

Micronesia 

SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

Florida Atlanta Team (404)974-9303 (404)974-

9322 SPT 

Georgia Atlanta Team (404)974-9303 (404)974-

9322 SPT 

Guam SanFrancisco/Seattle (415)486-5677 (415)486- SPT 

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Team 5676 

Hawaii SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

Idaho SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (206)615-2594 (206)615-2508 SPT 

Illinois Chicago Team (312)730-1511 (312)730-

1520 SPT 

Indiana Chicago Team (312)730-1511 (312)730-

1520 SPT 

Iowa Kansas City Team (816)268-0410 (816)823-

1402 SPT 

Kansas Kansas City Team (816)268-0410 (816)823-

1402 SPT 

Kentucky Kansas City Team (816)268-0410 (816)823-

1402 SPT 

Louisiana Dallas Team (214)661-9490 (214)661-

9662 SPT 

Maine New York/Boston Team (617)289-0133 (617)289-

0153 SPT 

Maryland Philadelphia Team (215)656-6442 (215)656-

6499 SPT 

Massachusetts New York/Boston Team (617)289-0133 (617)289-

0153 SPT 

Michigan Denver Team (303)844-3677 (303)844-

4695 SPT 

Minnesota Chicago Team (312)730-1511 (312)730-

1520 SPT 

Mississippi Atlanta Team (404)974-9303 (404)974-

9322 SPT 

Missouri Kansas City Team (816)268-0410 (816)823-

1402 SPT 

Montana Denver Team (303)844-3677 (303)844-

4695 SPT 

Nebraska Kansas City Team (816)268-0410 (816)823-

1402 SPT 

Nevada SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

New Hampshire New York/Boston Team (617)289-0133 (617)289-

0153 SPT 

New Jersey New York/Boston Team (646)428-3750 (646)428-

3742 SPT 

New Mexico Dallas Team (214)661-9490 (214)661-

9662 SPT 

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New York/Boston New York/Boston Team (646)428-3750 (646)428-

3742 SPT 

North Carolina Atlanta Team (404)974-9303 (404)974-

9322 SPT 

North Dakota Denver Team (303)844-3677 (303)844-

4695 SPT 

Northern Marianas SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

Ohio Chicago Team (312)730-1511 (312)730-

1520 SPT 

Oklahoma Dallas Team (214)661-9490 (214)661-

9662 SPT 

Oregon SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (206)615-2594 (206)615-2508 SPT 

Pennsylvania Philadelphia Team (215)656-6442 (215)656-

6499 SPT 

Puerto Rico New York/Boston Team (646)428-3750 (646)428-

3742 SPT 

Republic of Palau SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

Republic of the Marshall 

Islands 

SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (415)486-5677 (415)486-5676 SPT 

Rhode Island New York/Boston Team (617)289-0133 (617)289-

0153 SPT 

South Carolina Atlanta Team (404)974-9303 (404)974-

9322 SPT 

South Dakota Denver Team (303)844-3677 (303)844-

4695 SPT 

Tennessee Kansas City Team (816)268-0410 (816)823-

1402 SPT 

Texas Dallas Team (214)661-9490 (214)661-

9662 SPT 

U.S. Virgin Islands New York/Boston Team (646)428-3750 (646)428-

3742 SPT 

Utah Denver Team (303)844-3677 (303)844-

4695 SPT 

Vermont New York/Boston Team (617)289-0133 (617)289-

0153 SPT 

Virginia Philadelphia Team (215)656-6442 (215)656-

6499 SPT 

Washington SanFrancisco/Seattle 

Team (206)615-2594 (206)615-2508 SPT 

West Virginia Philadelphia Team (215)656-6442 (215)656- SPT 

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6499 

Wisconsin Chicago Team (312)730-1511 (312)730-

1520 SPT 

Wyoming Denver Team (303)844-3677 (303)844-

4695 SPT 

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