There are a number of state programs providing some relief for student loan borrowers. 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 2013) 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: Arkansas Department of Higer Education, Surety Bonds for Certified Institutions, Five Main Place Building, located at 423 Main St., Suite 400. (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.
California: Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, California Department of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 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) 723-0000.
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 or (888) 224-6684.
Georgia: Non-Public Post Secondary Education Commission, Tuition Guaranteed Trust Fund, 2082 E. Exchange Pl. #220, Tucker, GA 30084-5305. (770) 414-3300.
Indiana: Board for Proprietary Education, Indiana Commission for Higher Education, Career College Student Assurance Fund, 101 West Ohio St., Suite 670, Indianapolis, IN 46204; 317-464-4400.
Kentucky: Student Protection Fund, Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education, Capital Plaza Tower, Room 303, 500 Mero St., Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-4185.
Louisiana: Student Protection Fund, Louisiana Board of Regents, 1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200 Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3677, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677; 225-342-4253.
Maryland: Guaranty Student Tuition Fund, Maryland Higher Education Commission, 6 North Liberty St., Baltimore, MD 21201. (410) 767-3301 or toll-free (800)974-0203.
Nebraska: Department of Education, Student Tuition Recovery Cash Fund, P.O. Box 94987, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509. (402) 471-2295.
Nevada: Student Indemnification Account, Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education, 9890 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 221, Las Vegas, NV 89183. 702-486-6458.
New York: New York State Education Department, Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision, 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, 30 East Broad St., Suite 2481, Columbus, OH 43215. (614) 446-2752.
Oregon: School Closures and Transcript Requests, Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission, 255 Capitol Street NE, Third Floor
Salem, OR 97310. info.HECC@state.or.us (503)378-5690.
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., 10th Fl., 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 or (360) 709-4600.