Aspen Group, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2016

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 Equivalent

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 January 31, 2016 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 January 31, 2016. As of January 31, 2016, there were deposits of $943,975 in one institution 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 considered $1,122,485, as restricted cash at April 30, 2015. No cash was considered restricted at January 31, 2016. (See Note 8)

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 19,107,313 and 14,576,412 common shares, warrants to purchase 28,871,757 and 44,007,963 common shares, and $650,000 and $650,000 of convertible debt (convertible into 1,207,143 and 1,207,143 common shares, respectively) were outstanding during the nine months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, 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 January 31, 2015:

	For the
	Three Months Ended
	January 31, 2015
	Originally Reported			Adjustment			As Adjusted

Marketing Expense		364,219			(29,371	)		334,848
Cost of revenues		662,368			(29,371	)		632,997
Total operating expenses		2,498,205			(29,371	)		2,468,834
Operating loss from operations		(1,212,067	)		29,371			(1,182,696	)
Loss from operations before income taxes		(1,244,322	)		29,371			(1,214,951	)
Net loss		(1,244,322	)		29,371			(1,214,951	)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standard Updates which are not effective until after January 31, 2016, are not expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial position or results of operations.