What Is an Eligible Degree or Certification Program for Financial Aid?
An eligible degree or certificate program is a structured course of study that leads to a recognized academic, professional, or vocational credential.
Definition of an Eligible Program
To qualify for federal financial aid, the program must:
- Be an organized program of instruction or study
- Lead to one of the following:
- A degree
- A certificate
- Another recognized educational credential
Minimum Program Requirements
For a program to be considered eligible, it must meet at least one of the following minimum standards:
- 600 clock hours of instruction
- 16 semester or trimester hours
- 24 quarter hours
In addition, the program must be offered over a minimum of: