In June 2021, Student Defense released The Growing Missing Billion, a landmark report documenting how the U.S. Department of Education, in recent years, has allowed institutions of higher education to walk away from more than $1 billion in debts owed to taxpayers. Newly uncovered evidence established as part of Student Defense’s ongoing investigation establishes that the problem has gotten far worse. And with the Government Accountability Office having estimated the cost of the student loan program over the last twenty-five years to be approaching $200 billion, it is incumbent on the Department to hold accountable those responsible for substantial losses.
When a school closes, some student borrowers become eligible to have their student loans discharged. The Department assesses school liabilities equal to the loan funds discharged. The Department may also assess liabilities against schools as an enforcement mechanism where schools fail to comply with Title IV eligibility requirements. See generally 34 C.F.R § 668.13.
FOIA Requests
- Unpaid Liabilities - December 28, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - November 22, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - October 25, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - September 28, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - August 25, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - July 27, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - June 23, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - May 25, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - April 18, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - March 20, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - February 13, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - January 9, 2023
- Unpaid Liabilities - December 13, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - November 3, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - October 5, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - September 8, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - August 2, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - July 7, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - May 5, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - April 19, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - March 4, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - February 4, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - January 13, 2022
- Unpaid Liabilities - December 2, 2021
- Unpaid Liabilities - November 1, 2021
- Unpaid Liabilities - September 10, 2021
- Unpaid Liabilities - June 25, 2021
- Unpaid Liabilities - February 9, 2021
Click here to see our Unpaid Liabilities Summary Chart. This document is updated each time we receive new productions from the Department of Education.
Unpaid Liabilities - December 28, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of November 30, 2023.
Documents
On February 5, 2024, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - November 22, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of October 31, 2023.
Documents
On January 5, 2024, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - October 25, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of September 30, 2023.
Documents
On December 8, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - September 28, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of August 31, 2023.
Documents
On December 8, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - August 25, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of July 31, 2023.
Documents
On December 8, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - July 27, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of June 30, 2023.
Documents
On December 8, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - June 23, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of May 31, 2023.
Documents
On October 17, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - May 25, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of April 30, 2023.
Documents
On October 17, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - April 18, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of March 31, 2023.
Documents
On September 15, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - March 20, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of February 28, 2023.
Documents
On September 15, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - February 13, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of January 31, 2023.
Documents
On September 15, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - January 9, 2023
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of December 31, 2022.
Documents
On September 15, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - November 3, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of October 31, 2022.
Documents
On December 18, 2023, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - October 5, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of September 30, 2022.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - September 8, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities, and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of August 31, 2022.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - August 2, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of July 31, 2022.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - July 7, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of June 30, 2022.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - May 5, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed as of April 30, 2022.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - April 19, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of March 31, 2022.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - March 4, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of February 28, 2022.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - February 4, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of January 31, 2022.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - January 13, 2022
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of December 31, 2021.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - December 2, 2021
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of November 30, 2021.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here. (Note that the responsive document is for data as of December 31, 2021, and the original request was for November 30, 2021.)
Unpaid Liabilities - November 1, 2021
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of September 30, 2021 and October 31, 2021.
Documents
The Department initially failed to produce any documents responsive to this request, as required by law. After Student Defense sued the Department in federal court, the Department provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here. (Note that the responsive document is for data as of October 31, 2021, and the original request was for September 30, 2021 and October 31, 2021.)
Unpaid Liabilities - September 10, 2021
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of August 31, 2021.
Documents
On May 17, 2022, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - June 25, 2021
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of May 31, 2021.
Documents
On August 3, 2021, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.
Unpaid Liabilities - February 9, 2021
Seeking: A complete listing of all institutions with unpaid liabilities stemming from closures or compliance and enforcement actions; the amount of those liabilities; and the date on which the liabilities were assessed, as of February 28, 2021.
Documents
On April 15, 2021, the Department of Education provided a final response to this request. The responsive documents are available here.