Student Loans

Student loans create debt burdens that impact families for generations. Black Americans in general, and Black and Latina women in particular -- often are forced to take on more college debt than their white counterparts in pursuit of the American Dream. The student debt burden is felt most acutely by attendees of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. CRL successfully led a coalition of advocates that achieved substantial student debt cancellation in 2022. We continue to advocate for higher education policies to protect student loan borrowers and their parents from falling into a cycle of debt that keeps them from engaging in wealth-building activities. 

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North Carolina's Student Debt: Dimensions of a Crisis

North Carolina's Student Debt: Dimensions of a Crisis

While pursuing higher education is still a pathway to higher incomes over a person’s lifetime, student loan debt threatens to undermine this promise in North Carolina and nationwide. Outstanding student loan amounts have risen at an alarming rate over the past decade, and North Carolina has not been immune from this trend. Today, students and their families face a difficult...
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Research
Student Loans

Quicksand: Borrowers of Color & the Student Debt Crisis

Quicksand: Borrowers of Color & the Student Debt Crisis

Higher education has long been considered a pathway for advancement in our country. However, the playing field has not been level for low- and moderate-income families and people of color in their pursuit of a postsecondary education. Sadly, the resulting disparities in educational outcomes contribute to the persistent and growing racial wealth and income gaps. Nationwide, trends in the higher...
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Research
Student Loans

Comment: Preserve the State Authorization of Distance Education Rules

Comment: Preserve the State Authorization of Distance Education Rules

"Regarding State Authorization of Distance Education providers enrolling students across multiple states, we voice here our support for those provisions of the NPRM that preserve the State Authorization rules finalized in 2016 and currently in effect. The 2016 rules provide core protections to consumers and protect states’ rights to enforce their own laws in two key areas. First, the rules...
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Comment Letter
Student Loans

Protect Student Loan Borrowers from Discrimination

Protect Student Loan Borrowers from Discrimination

Student loan borrowers of color disproportionately bear the brunt of America’s student debt crisis, and sadly, the extraordinary levels of delinquency and default across these communities is preventable. The most vulnerable student loan borrowers have a right under federal law to make affordable student loan payments—a powerful protection that should make student loan defaults extremely rare. However, mounting evidence shows...
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Letters to Congress
Student Loans

The Failings Of Online For-profit Colleges: Findings From Student Borrower Focus Groups

The Failings Of Online For-profit Colleges: Findings From Student Borrower Focus Groups

Until 2010, for-profit institutions constituted the fastest growing sector in higher education. Coinciding with this growth, online college courses and programs expanded rapidly, driven initially by the adoption of online technologies by huge for-profit institutions like the University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University, and Walden University. The business model for the online component of these schools was characterized by institutional...
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Research
Student Loans

Drowning in Student Debt

Drowning in Student Debt

Higher education can be the gateway to a better life. Yet the rising costs of a college education and poor oversight of student loans have left some graduates and former students deep in debt—especially when enrolled in for-profit colleges. The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) found that students of color enroll more frequently in for-profit colleges than other students, graduate...
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Research
Student Loans

Testimony in Support of HB2588: Regulating the Practices of the Student Loan Industry

Testimony in Support of HB2588: Regulating the Practices of the Student Loan Industry

This written testimony focuses on three key areas of concern in support of HB 2588 to protect Oregonians from abusive practices by student education loan servicers: Oregon’s student loan debt crisis deepens the racial wealth gap and harms older Oregonians Abuses by student loan servicers prolong and deepen the student loan debt crisis, further increasing the racial wealth gap and...
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Testimony
Student Loans

Racial Disparities in Student Debt

Racial Disparities in Student Debt

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) appreciates the opportunity to provide ideas on how to address racial disparities in student debt and the broader challenges faced by students of color in college and career training. We appreciate your commitment to addressing racial disparities in student debt and the broader challenges faced by students of color in college and career training...
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Student Loans

Response to Senate Democratic Caucus Higher Education Act Reauthorization Principles

Response to Senate Democratic Caucus Higher Education Act Reauthorization Principles

The Center for Responsible Lending1 (CRL) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on principles for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). We commend your dedication to reauthorizing the Higher Education Act with the intention of achieving an affordable, accountable, accessible and equitable and safer higher education system. We hope that you will continue to push for a Higher...
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Letters to Congress
Student Loans

Testimony in Support of SB19-002: Protecting Coloradans from Abusive Practices by Student Education Loan Servicers

Testimony in Support of SB19-002: Protecting Coloradans from Abusive Practices by Student Education Loan Servicers

This written testimony focuses on three key areas of concern: 1) abuses by student loan servicers prolong and deepen the problem of student loan debt; 2) For-profit schools disproportionately drive student loan debt nationally and in Colorado; and 3) the federal rollback of existing protections bolsters the need for state action. Download the full testimony. (PDF)
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Testimony
Student Loans
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