For an institution to be a federal aid (Title IV) eligible institution, it must admit as regular students only those with a high school diploma or the recognized equivalent, and/or those who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the state where the institution is located.
If we or the U.S. Department of Education has reason to believe that a student’s high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education, the student may be asked to evaluate the validity of the student’s high school diploma.
To satisfy this requirement, we will request:
- Documentation from the high school that confirms the validity of the high school diploma, including transcripts or other written descriptions of course requirements, or written and signed statements by principals or executive officers at the high school attesting to the rigor and quality of the coursework at the high school;
- If the high school is regulated or overseen by a state agency, Tribal agency, or Bureau of Indian Education, confirming with or receiving documentation from that agency that the high school is recognized or meets requirements established by that agency; and
- If the Secretary has published a list of high schools that issue invalid high school diplomas, confirming that the high school does not appear on that list.