Understanding Your Composite Score: 3 Key Drivers
August 22, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has been calculating an institution’s Composite Score as part of its annual assessment of Financial Responsibility. However, new Financial...
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Why is ED Requiring Fiscal Year to Match Tax Year?
May 29, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Dear Colleague Letter issued May 16, 2024 (Implementation of Regulations Related to Financial Responsibility, Administrative Capability, Certification Procedures, and...
Recent Articles
In the realm of financial aid, change is a constant. The 2024/25 ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record) has brought about a notable adjustment — the removal of the housing question, specifically concerning living arrangements. This alteration, stemming from the FAFSA Simplification Act, prompts educational institutions to reconsider their approaches to...
Understanding the Department of Education Composite Score for Proprietary Institutions
April 26, 2024
Institutions of higher education, whether traditional universities or proprietary trade schools, are well familiar with U.S. Department of Education (ED) oversight. Annual filings and notification triggers are par for the course. For precisely this reason, it’s critical that we understand how the department assesses your finances so that you can prepare...
In October 2023, the Department announced an amendment to § 668.23(a) to require that audit reports are timely submitted, by the earlier of 30 days after the completion of the report or six months after the end of the institution’s fiscal year. Furthermore, when the regulations go into effect on July...
In case you missed it, the Department of Education’s recent announcement on February 13, 2024 introduced additional measures aimed at improving the efficiency of student record processing for colleges. This is a significant stride towards facilitating access to financial aid for millions of students across the nation. These steps include a...
The New McClintock 90/10 Calculation Model is Now Available
February 20, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education’s 2023 changes to the longstanding 90/10 rule introduces new hurdles for proprietary schools. Not only do the changes require schools to adopt a new model for calculating their 90/10, but they also make it more difficult to pass. Use Our Model to Stay Compliant At McClintock &...
While exhibiting at NASFAA’s 2024 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, Parker Charlton, FAAC® and I had the opportunity to attend sessions featuring both the Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, and a panel of Department of Education (ED) officials. They acknowledged the challenges posed by the 2024-2025 FAFSA and subsequent...
New Financial Responsibility Standards
February 8, 2024
Introduction Financial Responsibility, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, is a condition of eligibility for a school participating in FSA programs, requiring that schools submit an audited financial statement to ED each year. Recently, the conditions for meeting these important requirements changed in ways that may add complexity to...
Audit Guide Updates
January 19, 2024
Looking back, 2023 was a dynamic year marked by growth and new challenges facing institutions. With the national emergency coming to an end, FAFSA simplification rolling out, and an updated audit guide, institutions have a unique opportunity to make 2024 a season of growth and a refresher on best practices. Out...