Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
6 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2015
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation


The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aspen Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates


The preparation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the unaudited consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the allowance for doubtful accounts and other receivables, the valuation of collateral on certain receivables, amortization periods and valuation of courseware and software development costs, valuation of beneficial conversion features in convertible debt, valuation of stock-based compensation and the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents


For the purposes of the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. There were no cash equivalents at October 31, 2015 and April 30, 2015. The Company maintains its cash in bank and financial institution deposits that at times may exceed federally insured limits of $250,000 per financial institution. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts from inception through October 31, 2015. As of October 31, 2015, there were deposits of $657,522, and $941,812 in two institutions greater than the federally insured limits.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash


Restricted cash represents amounts pledged as security for letters of credit for transactions involving Title IV programs. The company considers $1,122,485 as restricted cash and that balance is shown as a current asset as of October 31, 2015 and April 30, 2015.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements


Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The Company classifies assets and liabilities recorded at fair value under the fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of inputs used in valuation techniques. Observable inputs (highest level) reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs (lowest level) reflect internally developed market assumptions. The fair value measurements are classified under the following hierarchy:


Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect quoted market prices (unadjusted) for identical assets and liabilities in active markets;

Level 2—Observable inputs, other than quoted market prices, that are either directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace for identical or similar assets and liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets and liabilities; and

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity that are significant to the fair value of assets or liabilities.


The estimated fair value of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses are carried at historical cost basis, which approximates their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments.

Refunds Due Students

Refunds Due Students


The Company receives Title IV funds from the Department of Education to cover tuition and living expenses. Until forwarded to the student, this amount is recorded in a current liability account called Refunds Due Students. Typically, the funds are paid to the students within two weeks.

Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue

Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue


Revenues consist primarily of tuition and fees derived from courses taught by the Company online as well as from related educational resources that the Company provides to its students, such as access to our online materials and learning management system. Tuition revenue is recognized pro-rata over the applicable period of instruction. The Company allows a student to make three monthly tuition payments during each 10-week class. The Company maintains an institutional tuition refund policy, which provides for all or a portion of tuition to be refunded if a student withdraws during stated refund periods. Certain states in which students reside impose separate, mandatory refund policies, which override the Company's policy to the extent in conflict. If a student withdraws at a time when a portion or none of the tuition is refundable, then in accordance with its revenue recognition policy, the Company recognizes as revenue the tuition that was not refunded. Since the Company recognizes revenue pro-rata over the term of the course and because, under its institutional refund policy, the amount subject to refund is never greater than the amount of the revenue that has been deferred, under the Company's accounting policies revenue is not recognized with respect to amounts that could potentially be refunded. The Company's educational programs have starting and ending dates that differ from its fiscal quarters. Therefore, at the end of each fiscal quarter, a portion of revenue from these programs is not yet earned and is therefore deferred. The Company also charges students annual fees for library, technology and other services, which are recognized over the related service period. Deferred revenue represents the amount of tuition, fees, and other student payments received in excess of the portion recognized as revenue and it is included in current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Other revenues may be recognized as sales occur or services are performed.

Net Loss Per Share

Net Loss Per Share


Net loss per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Options to purchase 16,857,313 and 13,476,412 common shares, warrants to purchase 28,871,757 and 44,007,963 common shares, and $650,000 and $750,000 of convertible debt (convertible into 1,207,143 and 1,307,142 common shares, respectively) were outstanding during the six months ended October 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share because the effects would have been anti-dilutive. The options, warrants and convertible debt are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share when their effect is dilutive.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

The Company discovered that an internet advertising publishing invoice was entered into the incorrect month. The effect of this was that marketing expense for the three and six months ended October 31, 2014, were understated by $29,371 and the marketing expense for the three months ended January 31, 2015, was overstated by the same amount. This error carries through to Cost of Revenues on our Consolidated Statement of Operations. The issue has been corrected and does not affect the results reported for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2015. The company evaluated SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin #108, and applied a dual method to evaluate if the adjustment was material. Under the dual method, both a “rollover” method and an “iron curtain” method were applied. In both methods, the adjustment was not material to the comparative three month period ended October 31, 2014 and therefore, no restatement of the October 31, 2014 or January 31, 2015 consolidated financial statements was deemed necessary. As a result, the following reclassification between periods was made for the quarter ended October 31, 2014:



For the



For the




Three Months Ended



Six Months Ended




October 31, 2014



October 31, 2014


 

 

Originally
Reported

 

 

Adjustment

 

 

As
Adjusted

 

 

Originally
Reported

 

 

Adjustment

 

 

As
Adjusted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing Expense

 

 

164,627

 

 

 

29,371

 

 

 

193,998

 

 

 

343,893

 

 

 

29,371

 

 

 

373,264

 

Cost of revenues

 

 

413,326

 

 

 

29,371

 

 

 

442,697

 

 

 

862,425

 

 

 

29,371

 

 

 

891,796

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

1,802,564

 

 

 

29,371

 

 

 

1,831,935

 

 

 

3,577,318

 

 

 

29,371

 

 

 

3,606,689

 

Operating loss from operations

 

 

(588,317

)

 

 

(29,371

)

 

 

(617,688

)

 

 

(1,193,211

)

 

 

(29,371

)

 

 

(1,222,582

)

Loss from operations before income taxes     

 

 

(1,131,361

)

 

 

(29,371

)

 

 

(1,160,732

)

 

 

(1,995,454

)

 

 

(29,371

)

 

 

(2,024,825

)

Net loss

 

 

(1,131,361

)

 

 

(29,371

)

 

 

(1,160,732

)

 

 

(1,995,454

)

 

 

(29,371

)

 

 

(2,024,825

)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements


Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standard Updates which are not effective until after October 31, 2015 are not expected to have a significant effect on the Company's unaudited consolidated financial position or results of operations.