State tuition recovery funds (STRFs) can be a valuable source of relief if you are the victim of a fraudulent school, you have not been able to get relief directly from the school, and you are not eligible for a school-related discharge. STRFs contain deposits of money collected from schools approved to operate in the state. The funds are disbursed to victimized students under specified conditions.
Many states have either a STRF or a bond program to reimburse defrauded students. States with STRFs tend to have two different funds–one for degree-granting institutions, and one for schools that offer non-degree-granting vocational programs.
The following is a fairly current list (as of 2006) of states which have STRFs, including contact information. There may be some states that have funds that are not listed here. This list includes STRFs only. It does not list states that require schools to post bonds for student relief. Be sure and contact your state consumer agency for more information:
Arizona: Student Tuition Recovery Fund, Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education, 1400 W. Washington, Room 260, Phoenix, AZ 85007. (602) 542-5709.
Arkansas: State Board of Higher Education, Surety Bonds for Certified Institutions, 114 E. Capital, Little Rock, Ark. 72201. (501) 371-2000.
Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education, Student Protection Fund, 501 Woodlane, Suite 312 South, Little Rock, AR 72201; (501) 683-8000.
Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education, Student Protection Fund, 501 Woodlane, Suite 312 South, Little Rock, AR 72201; (501) 683-8000.
California: Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, California Department of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Bos 980818, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818. (toll-free) 888-370-7589.
Connecticut: State of Connecticut, Board of Regents for Higher Education, 39 Woodland St., Hartford, CT 06105; (860) 493-0000.
Florida: Florida Student Protection Fund, Florida Department of Education, Commission for Independent Education, Turlington Bldg., 325 W. Gaines St., Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 32399. (850) 245-3200.
Georgia: Non-Public Post Secondary Education Commission, Tuition Guaranteed Trust Fund, 2082 E. Exchange Pl. #220, Tucker, GA 30084-5305. (770) 414-3300.
Indiana: Commission on Proprietary Education, Career College Student Assurance Fund, 302 West Washington Street, Room E201,Indianapolis, IN 46204;317-232-1320.
Kentucky: Student Protection Fund, State Board for Proprietary Education, P.O. Box 1360, Frankfort, KY 40602, 911 Leawood Dr., Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-3296, x228.
Louisiana: Student Protection Fund, Louisiana Board of Regents, 1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200 Baton Rouge, LA 70802; 225-342-4253.
Maryland: Guaranty Student Tuition Fund, Maryland Higher Education Commission, 839 Bestgate Rd., Suite 400, Annapolis, MD 21401. (410) 260-4500 or toll-free (800)974-0203.
Nebraska: Department of Education, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509. (402) 471-4827.
Nevada: Student Indemnification Account, Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education, 9890 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 221, Las Vegas, NV 89183. 702-486-6458.
New Hampshire: Division of Higher Education, Student Tuition Guarantee Fund, 101 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301-3494; 603-271-3494
New York: New York State Education Department, Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision, Tuition Reimbursement Account, 116 W. 32d St., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10001. (212) 643-4760.
North Carolina: North Carolina Community College System, Student Protection Fund, 200 West Jones St., Raleigh, North Carolina 27603; 919-807-7100;
Ohio: Student Tuition Recovery Fund, Student Tuition Recovery Authority, c/o State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, 35 East Gay St., Suite 403, Columbus, OH 43215. (614) 446-2752.
Oregon: Tuition Protection Fund, Education Department, 255 Capital Street, NE, Salem, OR 97310-0203. (503) 947-5600.
Tennessee: Tuition Guarantee Fund,Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Division of Postsecondary School Authorization, Parkway Towers, 404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1900, Nashville, TN 37243. (615) 741-5293.
Texas: Tuition Trust Account, Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges, 101 East 15th St., Austin, TX 78778. (512) 936-3100.
Virginia: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Student Tuition Guaranty Fund, 101 N. 14th St., James Monroe Building, Richmond, VA 23219. (804) 225-2600.
Washington: Tuition Recovery Trust Fund, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, 128 10th Ave., S.W., P.O. Box 43105, Olympia, WA 98504-3105. (360) 753-5662.
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