ERIC Number: ED635229
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Nov-9
Pages: 41
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Institutional Supports for Students with Stranded Credits: Survey Results from the Ohio College Comeback Compact. Research Report
Patel, Pooja; Ward, James Dean
ITHAKA S+R
As of 2023, 43.6 million borrowers owe more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. However, there is another, often overlooked, institutional debt that students may owe their former institutions after stopping out. It is estimated that 6.6 million students owe $15 billion in unpaid balances to their institutions. This institutional debt stems from various parts of campus including tuition balances, library fees, or parking fines, among others. Typically resulting in registration and transcript holds, institutional debt limits students' ability to access their transcripts, causing "stranded credits." These institutional debts can hamstring students' ability to complete their credential, transfer to a new program, apply for scholarships, or show proof of their education to potential employers. This report introduces students with stranded credits who were eligible to return to college through the Ohio Compact and provides a glimpse into their circumstances outside of the classroom. The authors share the findings of their survey and describe the hurdles these learners face when once again pursuing their postsecondary degree. They then discuss the types of support vital to the persistence and retention of these students. Finally, the authors conclude by examining the importance of academic and non-academic supports for individuals with stranded credits in their educational journey.
Descriptors: Student Loan Programs, Debt (Financial), Stopouts, College Credits, Academic Persistence, Postsecondary Education
ITHAKA S+R. Available from: ITHAKA. One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway 5th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Tel: 212-500-2355; e-mail: ithakasr@ithaka.org; Web site: https://sr.ithaka.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Ithaka S+R
Identifiers - Location: Ohio
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A