Policy - Certificate Students

Regulations mandated by the federal government require all universities to evaluate their certificate offerings to determine if each program can be labeled as a professional development program, or a program leading to categorized employment. Each GW school reviews their certificate offerings, and in consultation with University administrators, decides if they would like to pursue Gainful Employment reporting requirements.

In order for a certificate program to be eligible for federal funding, these reporting requirements must be met on an annual basis by the school. Currently only the certificate programs listed below are approved for Federal Direct Loan funding. There are no grants or scholarships available for these programs through the Office of Student Financial Assistance. If a program is not listed here, students may borrow a private alternative loan with the lender of their choice to help alleviate costs associated with the certificate program.

Programs are subject to US Department of Education annual reporting requirements to re-establish their eligibility each year. This list is updated semi-annually and as such inclusion on this list may be a result of the prior year’s authorization. 

College of Professional Studies

  • California Paralegal
  • Paralegal Studies
  • Public Relations
  • Publishing
  • Sustainable Urban Planning

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences

  • Anatomical & Translational Sciences
  • Forensic Investigations
  • LGBT Health Policy and Practice
  • Museum Studies

Graduate School of Education and Human Development

  • Educational Leadership and Administration

School of Medicine

  • Medical Laboratory Sciences (Post-Baccalaureate Program; Undergraduate)
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences (Post-Baccalaureate; Pre-Medicine)

School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • Emergency Management and Public Health
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness & Response
  • Systems Engineering

School of Nursing

  • Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner