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. 

Filter Results

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...
More
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...
More
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...
More
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...
More
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...
More
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...
More
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)
More
Testimony
Student Loans

Testimony: For-Profit College Accountability Act

Testimony: For-Profit College Accountability Act

For-profit schools target students of color, low-income students, women, and veterans for enrollment, while failing to provide a quality education enabling students to obtain gainful employment. As is described below, New York for-profit students are more likely to have higher debt loads, lower graduation rates, and higher default rates than other students in the state. Consequently, an inordinate number of...
More
Testimony
Student Loans

Congress Must Act to Solve Student Loan Debt Crisis and Close the Racial Wealth Gap

Congress Must Act to Solve Student Loan Debt Crisis and Close the Racial Wealth Gap

Existing racial wealth gap increases burden of student loan debt on Black families and communities: This means families of color are more likely to need to borrow for higher education, will have less income with which to pay it, and have less of a cushion to withstand future financial shocks, thus contributing to a higher likelihood of delinquency and default...
More
Research
Student Loans

Priorities for the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA)

Priorities for the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA)

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on our priorities for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). CRL applauds your initial efforts to tackle these policy reforms in H.R. 6543, The Aim Higher Act. We appreciate your dedication to create a bill that gets our country closer to providing a debt-free higher education...
More
Comment Letter
Student Loans
Displaying 61 - 70 of 131