Ending Predatory Student Lending Practices

In some of the most egregious instances, students are forced to pay back public loans even when a college closes or loses its accreditation.

By the: Communications Team

Topic

Higher Education Quality and Accountability

Published

Dec 01, 2017

Sign up for our newsletter

Harvard University’s Legal Services Center is currently working with students who attended schools operated by the now defunct ITT Educational Services. (Michael Conroy/The Associated Press)

For-profit colleges and universities are trapping students in a cycle of debt by charging high tuition rates without providing the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the workforce. In some of the most egregious instances, students are forced to pay back public loans even when a college closes or loses its accreditation. We funded the Project on Predatory Student Lending at Harvard University’s Legal Services Center to represent students in borrower defense claims. The center is currently working with students who attended schools operated by the now defunct ITT Educational Services and is seeking an injunction to stop the college from collecting loans made directly to individuals as well as restitution for students in bankruptcy proceedings.

This story is part of the 2017 Annual Report See Report

More from Higher Education Quality and Accountability

Man standing in front of outdoor playground.

'It’s Hard to Put Into Words How Betrayed I Feel' Shattered: Faces of the For-Profit College Crisis

‘This $50,000 Piece of Paper is Actually Completely Worthless’ Shattered: Faces of the For-Profit College Crisis

What’s Broken and What Works in Online Learning Q&A

Protecting Students from 'Quick' Underperforming Programs Q&A

How A Legal Organization is Defending Defrauded Student Borrowers Higher Education Quality and Accountability

'All of What They Promised Me Was a Lie': Eynelys Garcia's Devry University Story Q&A

Podcast: Higher Education’s Accountability Crisis Deep Dive with Laura Arnold

'I Was Trying To Lift Myself Up By The Bootstrap, But I Got Cement Shoes Instead' Q&A

‘They Took My Choice Away’: Victims of For-Profit Colleges Find an Ally Higher Education Quality and Accountability

A Third Act Act For College Transparency Higher Education Quality and Accountability

Debbie Cochrane is Working to Ensure A More Equitable, Affordable, and Accountable Higher Education System Women's History Month

Undercover For-Profits and Zombie Accreditors Threaten the Quality of American Colleges Higher Education Quality and Accountability

Dubious Conversions of For-Profit Colleges: Decoding the GAO Report Higher Education Quality and Accountability

Where Government Fails to Help Defrauded Students, Advocates Step In Higher Education Quality and Accountability

Maximizing Opportunity, Minimizing Injustice for Our Nation’s Veterans Drug Prices

Stymied Stimulus: The Far-Reaching Consequences of a Stalled COVID Relief Package Pretrial Justice

Higher Education Watchdogs Urge Oversight as Schools Push Programs Online Higher Education Quality and Accountability

In Pursuit of the American Dream: Latino Students Face Troubling Barriers to College Success Higher Education Quality and Accountability

‘Misery Factories’: At For-Profit Colleges, a Web of Predatory Behavior Higher Education Quality and Accountability

Innovation in Higher Education or A Serious Risk for Students? Higher Education Quality and Accountability

Grants

Arnold Ventures funds projects to understand problems and identify policy solutions.

See All Grants

More from Higher Education Quality and Accountability

What are you looking for?

Grants