School & Education

Access to transcripts

The Student Debt Assistance Act requires colleges and universities to provide current or former students with an official transcript in certain situations, even if the student owes money to the school.

The school must provide an official transcript if the student requests the transcript to:

• Apply for a job, 
• Transfer to another school,
• Apply for financial aid,
• Join the US Armed Forces or Illinois National Guard, or
• Pursue other postsecondary opportunities.

The school cannot make you pay a higher fee to get an official transcript or treat you unfairly because you still owe money to the school.

This law applies to both public and private higher education institutions.

Schools cannot refuse to provide an unofficial transcript to a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt, regardless of why the student needs it.

Debt on credit reports

If your higher education institution chooses to send your past due debt to a collection agency, that debt may not be reported to any credit reporting agency. This past debt also cannot be used against you in a credit report or credit score. The only exception to this is if it is required by federal law.

Withdrawing from school during hardship

All institutions of higher education must offer a financial or physical hardship withdrawal process. These programs must limit the debt that students who withdraw owe. It must also help those students if and when they choose to re-enroll. The types of hardship that should be covered by this withdrawal policy should include students who have:

• Serious injury or illness,
• Chronic illness,
• A medical issue of a family member in which the student needs to become a part-time or full-time caretaker to that family member,
• A mental health condition,
• A sudden or consistent lack of transportation issue, or
• A significant cost of living increase.

Every institution of higher education must publish its policies on their website. The policies also must be given to all students as part of their orientation. The policies must reflect the requirements above.