[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 34, Volume 3] [Revised as of July 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 34CFR600.54] [Page 195] TITLE 34--EDUCATION CHAPTER VI--OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PART 600_INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents Subpart E_Eligibility of Foreign Institutions To Apply To Participate in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Programs Sec. 600.54 Criteria for determining whether a foreign institution is eligible to apply to participate in the FFEL programs. The Secretary considers a foreign institution to be comparable to an eligible institution of higher education in the United States and eligible to apply to participate in the FFEL programs if the foreign institution is a public or private nonprofit educational institution that-- (a) Admits as regular students only persons who-- (1) Have a secondary school completion credential; or (2) Have the recognized equivalent of a secondary school completion credential; (b) Is legally authorized by an appropriate authority to provide an eligible educational program beyond the secondary school level in the country in which the institution is located; and (c) Provides an eligible education program-- (1) For which the institution is legally authorized to award a degree that is equivalent to an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree awarded in the United States; (2) That is at least a two-academic-year program acceptable for full credit toward the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree awarded in the United States; or (3) That is equivalent to at least a one-academic-year training program in the United States that leads to a certificate, degree, or other recognized educational credential and prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1088)