Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Comments and Responses ED-2025-SCC-0514.docx Supplementary Document	2025-12-15
PRA Burden Statement_1845-0012.docx Supplementary Document	2025-08-20
Supporting Statement_30 Day_1845-0012.docx Supporting Statement A	2025-12-15

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
22167	Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Public Institutions Other-2025 Application questions_1845-0012	Modified
209356	Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs Other-e-App Application Fields	Modified
193845	Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Private Sector Other-2025 Application questions_1845-0012	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1845-0012	ICR Reference No: 202508-1845-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202409-1845-005
Agency/Subagency: ED/FSA	Agency Tracking No: ED-2025-SCC-0514
Title: Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/17/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2025
Responses	4,248	7,686
Time Burden (Hours)	16,097	28,012
Cost Burden (Dollars)	953,820	0

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Abstract: 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.

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

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 41387	08/25/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 58551	12/17/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs
Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Private Sector
Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Public Institutions

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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	4,248	7,686	0	-3,438	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	16,097	28,012	0	-11,915	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	953,820	0	0	953,820	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: 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.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $710,185

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: 12/17/2025

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