The College at a Glance

At the undergraduate level, The American College of Financial Services offers post-secondary designations (industry-recognized certifications) and is an open-enrollment institution that admits all applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent. The College’s Huebner School offers six professional designations for agents and advisors working in the financial services field, as well as an educational program that qualifies students to sit for CFP Board’s national certification exam. Students may enroll in a single course, a full program, or multiple programs.

By enrolling in a course at The American College of Financial Services all students agree to be bound by the following Admissions Declarations:

“I agree to be bound by The College Code of Ethics and Procedures and other ethical codes or standards that apply to this designation. I am aware that successfully passing an examination is not the sole requirement for the awarding of a designation and I agree that I shall not be entitled to the designation unless I also meet any experience or ethical standards established by the Board of Trustees. I understand that I must complete the educational requirements for a particular program within five years from the date of the initial course registration in that program. I further understand that upon award of my designation, I will be obligated to comply with the continuing education requirements and pay any associated recertification fees required by The College to maintain use of the designation.

The American College of Financial Services reserves the right to void any examination if, in its sole opinion, there is a reason to question its validity. I agree to be bound by the policies of The College and understand it is my responsibility to make myself aware of additional policies announced in the future that are applicable to my designation(s)."

For Designation and Certificate Programs

In order to keep its programs and coursework relevant and current, The American College of Financial Services implemented in 2006 a "5-Year Rule," which allows a student to apply completed course credits to a designation or certificate program for up to five years after a course is successfully completed.

If the designation program is completed within those five years, the course credits become permanent on the student’s transcript and may be applied at a later date toward the fulfillment of requirements for other designation programs, if the course is part of the program’s current curriculum. However, if the designation is not earned within five years, the course credits will expire, and the course must be repeated to meet the program requirements, where applicable. In other words, credits for courses passed after 1/1/2006 are CONTINGENT until completion of a College program of study, at which time they become PERMANENT. But if the program is not completed within five years from the date a course was passed, the credits expire and the course must be repeated if it is needed to meet program requirements.

If the expired course no longer exists in the program’s current curriculum, the student must take a new course to complete the program.

Applicability

The 5-Year Rule applies to all programs of study in the Huebner School, including the designation programs, the CFP® Certification Education Program, and certificate programs. It also applies to the CAP® Program, graduate certificate programs, the FSCP® Program and the TPCP™ Program. The College’s policy on time allotted for completion of graduate degree programs is covered in the Graduate Student Resources and Policies.

Credit Hour Policy

For the purposes of facilitating the transfer of credit to other post-secondary educational institutions, The American College follows the guidelines established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for determining the number of credit hours assigned to each course in the Irwin Graduate School and Huebner School. These guidelines satisfy the requirements of both the US Department of Education and the Middles States Commission on Higher Education, the College’s accrediting body.

The State of Pennsylvania defines one college semester credit as 14 hours of classroom instruction plus appropriate outside student preparation as determined by the faculty. The national standard for out-of-class student work established by the US Department of Education is approximately two hours of independent student work for each hour of instruction. For example, a three-credit course must offer 42 hours of rigorous college instruction plus the corresponding required student work.

The State of Pennsylvania also requires courses to be scheduled for the correct number of hours per credit awarded. For example, a 3-credit course that meets 3 hours per week for 14 weeks should be scheduled for a full three-hour session even if there is a 15 minute break during each class (e.g., from 2pm to 5pm, not 2pm to 4:45pm).

Pennsylvania allows for determining activities that are the equivalent of classroom instruction. For example, if a course is offered via online technology, then the faculty as a whole must agree upon criteria for determining what online activities constitute the equivalent of classroom instruction for uniform implementation across the institution. Establishing such criteria and identifying the number of hours each activity would represent as equivalent to instruction ensure that the amount of credit awarded per course complies with Pennsylvania regulations.

In its definition of a credit hour, the US Department of Education also links the instructional component to the achievement of verifiable learning outcomes:  A credit hour is “an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that is not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class work for each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester… or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time.”

(Note: For Pennsylvania institutions of higher education that do not participate in Title IV programs, the PA requirement of 14 hours of instruction per credit supersedes the federal guideline of 15 hours per credit used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid.)

Please review the MSCHE link here for the most recent version of the MSCHE credit hour policy.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits from courses taken externally are subject to the same rules based on the date the credits were posted to a student’s transcript. Transfer credits posted before 1/1/2006 are PERMANENT credits and transfer credits posted to a student’s transcript on or after 1/1/2006 are CONTINGENT credits pending program completion under the rules defined above.

The American College of Financial Services recognizes that throughout the course of involvement with The College, some students may encounter issues they feel are not being adequately addressed. Students should always contact our Academic Advising Department (866-313-1431 or advising@TheAmericanCollege.edu) as the first step in attempting to resolve a potential issue or complaint. The College distinguishes between complaints or concerns and grievances by the gravity of the issue and a student’s prior efforts to resolve it.

What is a grievance?

The College defines a grievance as a serious issue that a student has tried to resolve through the normal channels of inquiry, but for which the student is not satisfied with the outcome and seeks review at a higher organizational level. The College has established the following process to address grievances, but requests that students first review the Student Handbook and/or College-wide Student Policies to ensure they understand applicable College policy before submitting a grievance.

Students may submit a grievance by email to Grievances@TheAmericanCollege.edu. Issues submitted through this channel are referred to the administration of the appropriate department, which will review the issue and respond directly to the student. Students who have submitted a grievance via the email address listed above will receive a response within 30 days depending upon the nature of the issue and the effort required to obtain the information required to address it.

The College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) participating institution. As such, students from any state may file complaints.

Students who have followed The College’s grievance process as described above and still do not feel their concern has been adequately addressed may contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education at the following address:

Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity 
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Postsecondary and Adult Education 
333 Market Street, 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 
Phone: 717-783-8228
Fax: 717-722-3622 
Email: RA-HigherEducation@pa.gov 

General Information

The American College (“The College”) complies with all applicable laws to protect the privacy of each person who attends or has attended The College (“Student”).  The College respects the right to privacy of each of our Students and is committed to safeguarding records that contain information directly related to a Student (collectively, “Education Records”).  Each Student has a right to inspect and review his or her Education Records.  If, upon review, a Student discovers that an Education Record is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the Student's privacy rights, the Student may request amendment of the appropriate portion of the Education Records.  Subject to certain exceptions, the College generally will not disclose personally identifiable information from a Student’s Education Records to a third party without obtaining the prior written consent of the Student, or sell, rent or otherwise make available to third parties a Student’s Education Records for marketing or other purposes.

Access to Education Records

Each Student has the right to inspect and review his or her own Education Records within a reasonable time after the College receives a request for access.

A Student requesting such access should submit to The American College Registrar and Certification Officer a written request identifying the record(s) the Student wishes to inspect.  That College official will either provide copies of the record(s) requested or make other arrangements for access and notify the Student of the time and place where the record(s) may be inspected.

Amendment of Education Records

A Student may request that the College amend any portion of the Education Records that he or she believes is inaccurate or misleading.  If the College decides not to amend the Education Records as requested by the Student, the College will notify the Student of the decision and advise the Student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.

Disclosure of Education Records

Subject to the exceptions listed blow, the College will not disclose personally identifiable information from a Student’s Education Records to a third party without obtaining the prior written consent of the Student.  The College may disclose personally identifiable information from a Student’s Education Records without prior notice or consent in the following circumstances:

1. In connection with a health or safety emergency, The College may disclose information from Educational Records as appropriate to protect the health or safety of the Student or other persons.
2. Professors, instructors, administrators, staff, advisors, attorneys, trustees, members of committees and disciplinary boards, and contractors, volunteers or other parties to whom The College has outsourced institutional services or functions (“School Officials”) may review Education Records if they need to do so in order to fulfill their professional responsibility to The College or to the Student.
3. The College may disclose Education Records to officials of another school, in which a Student seeks or intends to enroll, upon request of officials at that other school.  If requested by the Student, The College will provide a copy of the records that were released to the other school.
4. The College may release Directory Information, including the following information contained in an Education Record of a Student, which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed:
   • Name 
   • Email address 
   • Dates of attendance 
   • Designations and/or Degrees awarded by The College and date(s) of completion 
     
     Students may request that directory information be kept confidential. Such a request should be submitted to The American College Registrar and Certification Officer in writing.
5. Additionally, for the purposes of communicating with the CFP Board and facilitating student registration for the CFP® Certification Examination, The College may send the CFP Board a periodic report listing Directory Information of Students who have successfully completed The College's CFP® Certification Education Curriculum.
6. The College may disclose Education Records when the disclosure is in connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary for such purposes as to: determine the eligibility for the aid; determine the amount of the aid; determine the conditions for the aid; and/or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. With respect to such disclosure, the term "financial aid" means payment of funds provided to an individual (or payment in kind of tangible or intangible property to the individual) that is conditioned on the individual's attendance, performance, or other factors.
7. The College may disclose Education Records to either supporting parent(s) or guardian(s) where the Student is claimed as a dependent under the Internal Revenue Code.
8. The College must provide Education Records in response to subpoenas, or as otherwise compelled or required by legal process.
9. The College may disclose Education Records in other circumstances to the extent permitted by law. 
    

Directory Information Opt-Out Provision

If a Student prefers not to have any of his or her Directory Information shared with any other third party, other than mandatory disclosures made in response to subpoenas or other legal processes, the Student may opt out by informing The College of this preference in writing at the following address: The American College of Financial Services; 630 Allendale Road, Suite 400, King of Prussia, PA, 19406; Attention: Registrar’s Office.  Electing to opt out may affect reimbursement, tax filing status, or recognition policies of certain employers, and opting out of communications from The College will not apply to correspondence for academic or billing purposes.

Advising Transcripts

Advising transcripts give you a complete picture of your student record, including any passed or failed courses. Current course registrations are also listed on an advising transcript. Advising transcripts can be used as a guide toward completing your program of study since all remaining course requirements are listed. Students are able to view their advising transcripts online through their student account. Use the "Self Services" section of your student portal to see this information.

Official & Unofficial Transcripts

To request an Official Transcript, please order via Parchment with this link to order your official transcript, duplicate diploma, or education verification. You can also use the Student Portal to order these official documents.

Official transcripts have The College seal, are signed by The Registrar, and can be delivered via email or physical mail. Official Transcripts cost $50 plus shipping and handling (if a physical copy is requested). Electronic transcripts are normally delivered as soon as the order is completed, and physical transcripts are delivered in two – three weeks after the order has been completed. 

Unofficial transcripts are also available at no charge via your student portal. This shows both passed and failed courses. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted by other colleges or universities for transfer credit.

Duplicate diplomas are available at $115 plus shipping and handling. You will also receive an electronic version when ordering a duplicate diploma.

Education verification can be requested at no charge.

Diploma Frames

Recent graduates are encouraged to pursue framing options that best fit their needs and budget requirements. Huebner School diplomas are 11 inches x 14 inches in size, and Graduate School diplomas are 8.5 inches x 11 inches in size. The American College of Financial Services has partnered with Framing Success for branded diplomas. Please visit the Framing Success site for frames, pricing, and shipping options. Please note that these are for the frames only, diplomas are shipped separately.

Requesting a Refund

All requests for refunds must be made in writing to the Office of Student Experience by emailing Requests@theamericancollege.edu.

Fees are subject to change at any time without notice. Fees may not be credited to another student. Most companies have educational reimbursement plans; contact your company for details. The College also is an "eligible institution" under The Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended). This status allows you to take advantage of the Lifetime Learning Credit under Internal Revenue Code. Consult your tax advisor to see if you qualify.

Discounted pricing cannot be combined with any other offers, coupons, discounts, or promotions. We reserve the right to correct any incorrect pricing / charges that may have occurred.

The policies are as follows:

Price Adjustments Policy 
Discount or pricing adjustment requests will be accepted within 7 days of the date the enrollment was processed for fulfillment. Discounted pricing cannot be combined with any other offers, coupons, discounts, or promotions. We reserve the right to correct any incorrect pricing / charges that may have occurred.

Non-Credit Courses and Programs Refund Policy 
The College will refund non-credit course tuition less a $49 cancellation fee within 10 days of the date the enrollment was processed for fulfillment, and only if the course has not been accessed.

Those enrolling in full programs, where all courses are purchased at once, are eligible to receive a refund less a $495 cancellation fee within 10 days of the date the full program enrollment was processed for fulfillment, and only if the program has not been accessed. There are no partial refunds for full program courses not accessed.

Refund Policy for HS & GS Courses 
The College will refund course tuition less a $130 cancellation fee if a student requests the refund within 30 days of signing up for the course or, in the case of a live onsite or webinar class, before the third class date, whichever is sooner. Those enrolling in designation full programs, where all courses are purchased at once, will be subject to separate refund arrangements communicated at the time of purchase.

For Pre-Paid Full Programs 
The College will refund course tuition paid less a $495 cancellation fee, if student requests refund within 30 days of enrollment (after 30 days, no refund).

Refund Policy for Dalton Education 
Dalton Education, LLC must be notified at 877-426-2373 of potential shipping errors and refund requests within five business days of receiving materials. If the materials have been marked, damaged, opened, or are otherwise unable to be resold, we will not be able to refund the cost. Students must return materials by a trackable shipping method. Original and return shipping costs will not be refunded. Refunds for Dalton Education as part of a pre-paid package enrollment will be subject to The College’s 30 days of enrollment refund policy.

Refund Policy for FSCP® 
The College will refund course tuition less a $90 cancellation fee, if a student requests the refund within 30 days of enrollment. No refunds will be issued after this date.

Refund Policy for MSM and MSFP Courses 
If you are unable to complete the MSM or MSFP program, please call Graduate Administration at 610-526-1415 for the refund schedule.

Refund Policy for Guild Students 
Students enrolling through Guild Education partners cannot be granted refunds after they have completed the Education Verification during the enrollment process. If you have questions about whether a program is right for you, please speak with an admissions advisor at 888-263-7265 before you enroll.

Undergraduate Grade Scheme

Grade Schemes

The grading scale and a grading rubric are made available to the student by the faculty. It is strongly recommended that the student read all course expectations as a first step in studying the provided materials. The standard grading scale for the Solomon S. Huebner School is as follows:

Grade Percentage
A 90–100%
B 80–89%
C 70–79%
D 60–69%
F 59% and below

Due to continuing education and state licensure requirements, all students must earn a “C” 
or better to pass a course. A “D” grade is not a passing grade for any of The College’s 
courses.

Graduate Grade Scheme
The standard grading scale for the graduate school is as follows: 
Grade Percentage
A 90–100%
B 80–89%
C 70–79%
D 60–69%
F 59% and below

The grading scale and a grading rubric are made available to the student by the faculty. It’s strongly recommended that the student read all course expectations as a first step in studying the provided materials. 

Prior learning assessments (PLAs) evaluate for-college credit experiences and skills obtained outside of the traditional classroom setting. These experiences and skills can be applied to our designations and degree programs upon review by the Academics department.  The American College of Financial Services (The College) may request that prospective students supply supporting documents (e.g. a résumé documenting significant work experience in that area, a letter of recommendation on company letterhead from an employer vouching for your abilities, records of military training, college transcripts, business training certificates, work products, GRE or GMAT test scores, or other evidence) that capture possible evidence of success in our programs. Prior learning assessments are of value to students, as they will save students time and money as they continue their educational journey.  Students may submit their experiences and or demonstrated skills to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@theamericancollege.edu for a preliminary evaluation.  In turn, the materials will be submitted to the Academics department for official review and evaluation.

To qualify for possible PLA credit, students may submit evidence of experiential training that will equate to no more than 3-credit hours of credit within either the Hueber School or Graduate School programs before the end of their first enrollment with The College.  The student submission will include a $250.00  non-refundable administrative service fee which covers the time spent by the faculty to review and evaluate the PLA submitted materials.  PLA requests after the student’s first enrollment will not be processed by The College.  PLA processing may take up to two weeks for the Academics department to make a decision.

Please review Exception to Policy for the most recent version.