Title IV Participation Application

Postsecondary institutions use the E-App to apply for designation as an eligible institution, initial participation, recertification, reinstatement, change in ownership, to update a current approval, or report information. 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.

Pre-Eligibility Application

To participate in federal student financial aid programs (Title IV, HEA) as an eligible institution or as an eligible non-participating institution, institutions must apply and receive approval. Some institutions apply only for designation as an eligible non-participating institution so their students may receive deferments on FSA program loans or be eligible for tax credits or other non-Title IV programs that require institutions to be FSA-eligible.

Before beginning to participate in the FSA programs, a school should familiarize itself with FSA Program requirements, the administrative and other requirements that it will have to fulfill, including tracking student and program eligibility. Some of these requirements require substantial lead-time, so a school should begin planning for implementation as soon as possible. Once it begins participating in the FSA programs, a school must continue to meet certain academic, financial, and administrative standards. The applicable federal regulations are 34 CFR Parts 600 & 668.

Institutions are also strongly encouraged to watch the Training Video: Applying for First-Time Approval to Participate in Title IV FSA Programs and to review the student financial assistance regulations regarding the requirements that must be satisfied before seeking approval to participate in the federal student financial aid programs. To access the FSA training video, you will need an FSA Training Center account (username and password). Please note that your username and password for the FSA Training Center is not associated with your FSAID and password used to access other FSA systems.

The FSA Handbook Glossary is another helpful resource and defines terms and abbreviations that are related to the Title IV programs.

Click "Get Started" if you are an institution applying to participate in the FSA programs for the first time, an institution seeking to be reinstated, and/or an institution requesting designation as an eligible non-participating institution.

Help From Your School Participation Division

For help with completing the E-App please contact your School Participation Division.

For issues with your user ID or password, contact Partner Connect Customer Support via the Help Center.

Federal Student Aid School Participation Divisions

New York/Boston
New York/Boston
(CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PR, RI, VT, Virgin Islands)
646-428-3750
NYBostonSPD@ed.gov
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
(DC, DE, MD, MI, PA, VA, WV)
215-656-6442
PhiladelphiaSPD@ed.gov
Atlanta
Atlanta
(AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC)
404-074-9303
AtlantaSPD@ed.gov
Chicago/Denver
Chicago/Denver
(IL, IN, MN, OH, WI, CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
312-730-1511
Chicago.Denver.SPD@ed.gov
Dallas
Dallas
(AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
214-661-9490
DallasSPD@ed.gov
San Francisco/Seattle
San Francisco/Seattle
(AZ, CA, HI, NV, Pacific Islands, AK, ID, OR, WA)
415-486-5677
SanFrancisco.Seattle.SPD@ed.gov
Multi-Regional and Foreign School Participation Division
Multi-Regional and Foreign School Participation Division
202-377-3168
Multi-RegionalSPD@ed.gov
FSA.Foreign.Schools.Team@ed.gov
Kansas City
Kansas City
(IA, KS, KY, MO, NE, TN)
816-268-0410
KansasCitySPD@ed.gov
Third-Party Servicer
Third-Party Servicer
816-268-0543
FSAPC3rdpartserviceroversight@ed.gov

Application to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs (E-App)

Postsecondary institutions must complete and submit an Eligibility application to be approved to participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs. Institutions must submit this application:

  • to be initially certified

  • to be approved following a change of ownership or structure

  • to be recertified to continue participation

  • to have eligibility reinstated

  • to be designated as an eligible non-participating institution, or

  • to update/report information.

Updates include changes such as, but not limited to, name or address change, new location or program, increased level of offering, change of officials, report a third-party servicer, Federal School Code Address change or update to Eligibility and Oversight Administrator.

Resources

Submit Financial Statements and Compliance Audits

Report Foreign Gifts and Contracts

Additional Information

Paper Reduction Statement

OMB No. 1845-0012

Exp. Date 12/31/2025

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 17 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefit (Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210-4537 or (TBD)

Privacy Act Disclosure Notice

Thank you for visiting our Web site. Postsecondary institutions use the E-APP to apply for designation as an eligible institution, initial participation, recertification, reinstatement, or continued approval after a 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 includes 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 institution. 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).