34 CFR § 602.10 - Link to Federal programs.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t34/s602.10"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "34 CFR § 602.10 - Link to Federal programs."
title_number: 34
title_name: "Education"
section_number: "602.10"
section_name: "Link to Federal programs."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION"
part_number: "602"
part_name: "THE SECRETARY'S RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING AGENCIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "20 U.S.C. 1099b, unless otherwise noted."
regulatory_source: "64 FR 56617, Oct. 20, 1999, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "602"
---


# 602.10 Link to Federal programs.

The agency must demonstrate that—

(a) If the agency accredits institutions of higher education, its accreditation is a required element in enabling at least one of those institutions to establish eligibility to participate in HEA programs. If, pursuant to 34 CFR 600.11(b), an agency accredits one or more institutions that participate in HEA programs and that could designate the agency as its link to HEA programs, the agency satisfies this requirement, even if the institution currently designates another institutional accrediting agency as its Federal link; or

(b) If the agency accredits institutions of higher education or higher education programs, or both, its accreditation is a required element in enabling at least one of those entities to establish eligibility to participate in non-HEA Federal programs.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)

[64 FR 56617, Oct. 20, 1999, as amended at 85 FR 58918, Nov. 1, 2019]