What is Know Before You Enroll?
Through Know Before You Enroll, the City helps New Yorkers select a school or training program, advises them to be careful of taking on a large amount of school debt and encourages anyone who has had a negative experience to file a complaint by calling 311 or visiting NYC.gov. 
Know Before You Enroll is part of the Department of Consumer Affairs' "Protect Your Money" campaign.
Read the press release
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Read the Know Before You Enroll stories:
Read Garvin's story (En español) (in PDF)
Read Nicolle's story (In Russian) (in PDF)
Read Paula's story (En español) (in PDF)
Read Samuel's story (En español) (in PDF)
Here are some tips to help you learn about your training options and protect your money
Before you take on debt or pay to enroll in a school or training program, do your homework first. Here are 10 important tips to help you protect your money.
Download the tips in English (in PDF)
Download the tips in Chinese (in PDF)
Download the tips in Spanish (in PDF)
Download the tips in Russian(in PDF)
Download the tips in Haitian Creole (in PDF)
Download the tips in Vietnamese (in PDF)
Download the tips in Arabic (in PDF)
Download the tips in French (in PDF)
To request paper copies of these tips, call 311 and ask for Know Before You Enroll tips to be mailed to you for free.
1. Free and low-cost education and training options are available.
Click on the links below or call 311 to learn about free and low-cost adult education and training options. You can attend classes at the Department of Education, City University of New York (CUNY), public libraries, community-based organizations, Workforce1 Career Centers, and more.
The Mayor's Office of Adult Education site has a Find a Program search tool to locate free and low-cost programs in your neighborhood in New York City. You can refine your search by type of service offered (ESOL, adult literacy, GED, or job training), borough, or ZIP code.
Visit the site
2. If a school or training program sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Research, research, research.
Consider multiple schools before deciding which one is right for you. Ask for information on graduation and completion rates, student loan debt, and whether or not the credits you get will transfer to other schools. Sit in on a class, ask to speak to former students who have completed the program, and visitNYC.gov to read reviews from real students in the NYC Training Guide. Ask to see a list of employers that hire graduates, and call those businesses to ask their opinion of the school. You should also research the general field you're interested in to make sure it's the right fit and there's potential for job availability and growth.
- The NYC Training Guide provides important information about training classes, such as where the class is located and how much it will cost. You can also read the reviews from students to find out what they thought of the course.
Visit the site
Learn how to use the guide (in PDF) - The College Navigator provides information on the tuition costs, graduation rates, average financial aid amount, and loan default rates of different schools and colleges.
Visit the site
4. Avoid unlicensed schools.
Some schools are operating illegally. If you go to an unlicensed school, you can't take exams to become licensed in many fields such as nursing. Click on the links below or call the New York State Education Department at (212) 643-4760 or 518-474-3969 to check if a vocational or trade school is licensed. Remember, even if a school has a license, it might not be well run, so research the school before you sign up. Call 311 or click on the tab "File a Complaint" on this website to report an unlicensed school.
5. Don't sign up the day you visit a school.
Before you sign up, you need to understand how much the program will cost and how you will pay for it. Do not make such an important decision on the spot! Take your time, and research the school. VisitNYC.gov or click on the links below to learn more about specific schools and programs.
- The NYC Training Guide provides important information about training classes, such as where the class is located and how much it will cost. You can also read the reviews from students to find out what they thought of the course.
Visit the site
Learn how to use the guide (in PDF) - The College Navigator provides information on the tuition costs, graduation rates, average financial aid amount, and loan default rates of different schools and colleges.
Visit the site
6. Never sign anything you don't understand.
If a school pressures you to sign a contract or agreement on the spot, walk away. You have the right to bring home important forms so you can read them more carefully and review them with people you trust.
7. Ask for the school's tuition cancellation policy in writing.
The policy should describe how you can get a refund if you need to cancel or withdraw. However, once you have signed up, it can be tough to get your money back.
8. Be careful of taking on a lot of debt.
Some schools charge tens of thousands of dollars. Often, the "financial aid' that is available isn't free money, but rather loans you have to pay back – with interest. School loans last a long time, and there's a limit on how much money you can borrow. Loans can also lower your credit score if you don't pay them back on time. Make sure you understand the terms and will be able to make the payments. Remember that free and low-cost education and training options are available. See tip #1!
- The Mayor's Office of Adult Education site has a Find a Program search tool to locate free and low-cost programs in your neighborhood in New York City. You can define your search by type of service offered (ESOL, adult literacy, GED, or job training), borough, or ZIP code.
Visit the site - The Office of Financial Empowerment will show you ways to manage, save, and protect your money. The site provides important information about debt and credit, and can help you find a counselor or class.
Visit the site
9. Avoid schools that "guarantee employment" after you graduate.
A school can't guarantee that you'll get a job when you graduate. Many times, the schools that make these types of promises don't actually place you in a job.
- The NYC Training Guide provides important information about training classes, such as where the class is located and how much it will cost. You can also read the reviews from students to find out what they thought of the course.
Visit the site
Learn how to use the guide (in PDF) - The College Navigator provides information on the tuition costs, graduation rates, average financial aid amount, and loan default rates of different schools and colleges.
Visit the site
10. You have the right to file a complaint.
Did you enroll in a school or training program but didn't get what you were promised? Call 311 or click on the tab "File a Complaint" on this website to file a complaint.
Are you in debt from school?
Visit nyc.gov or call 311 and ask for an NYC Financial Empowerment Center, where you can get free one-on-one professional financial counseling.
Here are some helpful links to learn more about training options and student loans:
Find out more information:
1. Get information on trade and vocational schools
2. Learn more about New York's colleges and universities
3. Learn about the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Frauds
4. View a list of commonly asked questions about security guard training programs
Find a licensed school:
1. Find a list of licensed trade, vocational, and ESOL schools in Manhattan
2. Find a list of licensed trade, vocational, and ESOL schools in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island
3. Search for all licensed colleges and universities in New York State
4. Find a list of all approved security guard training programs in New York State (in PDF)
5. Find a free or low-cost adult education program
Learn more about financial aid and student loans:
1. Learn about NYC's Department of Consumer Affairs - Office of Financial Empowerment
2. Find out more about student aid
3. Get assistance repaying your loans
4. Learn about scholarships, grants, and loans that you can apply for in New York State
5. Find about more about student loans
6. Learn what you can do if you already have student loans and want to know more about your options and rights
