If I take a distance learning course, am I eligible for federal financial aid?
Yes, the federal government has recently decided to treat distance learning students just as any other student when it comes to financial aid. If you are enrolled at least halftime in an eligible institution and demonstrate financial need, you may receive government financial aid.
How do I know an educational institution is eligible?
Eligible Institutions have to meet a variety of Department of Education requirements, known as Title IV, in order to receive financial aid for their students. Technically speaking it must be an institution that is described in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088). This category includes virtually all accredited public, nonprofit, and proprietary post-secondary institutions.
Contact the school you are planning to attend and ask if they are eligible to receive federal financial aid or check the website of the Office of Post-secondary Education, which has a database of all schools that meet its Title IV requirements: http://www.ed.gov/BASISDB/TITLE4/search/....
Are institutions that primarily teach distance learning courses eligible for federal financial aid?
Generally no, unless they have been designated as a demonstration site. The Demonstration Program is the latest addition to the financial aid legislation. It allows the Secretary of Education to waive specific statutory and regulatory student aid requirements for participating institutions. Among the requirements that may be waived are those regarding measures of an academic year, minimum hours spent in the classroom, and the percentage of an institution's students who may be served by distance education. Up to 15 degree-granting institutions, consortia, or systems of institutions may participate in Distance Education Demonstration Programs during 1998 and 1999, and up to 50 may participate in 2000.
Is University Access an eligible institution?
No, University Access is not an accredited degree-granting institution. University Access creates high-quality business courseware and licenses distance learning courses to accredited degree-granting institutions. You will find a list of our Partner institutions in our course catalog at http://www.universityaccess.com/partners.... What is at least half time?
Generally a student must be enrolled for at least six credit hours or two courses, but it can vary depending on the requirements of the individual institutions.
