Consumer and Worker Protection311Search all NYC.gov websites
Other Resources
Student Loans: Other Resources
*Important Updates Due to COVID-19*
Resource Links
College Board
Compare financial aid offer letters.
Compare financial aid offer letters.
College Navigator
See data on schools’ tuition, graduation rates, student loan default rates, and more.
See data on schools’ tuition, graduation rates, student loan default rates, and more.
College Scorecard
Compare schools’ average annual cost, graduation rate, and salary after attending. You can also compare average debt, typical monthly payment of students who completed a degree, and the percent of students paying down their debt (a sign that former students can afford to pay back their loans).
Compare schools’ average annual cost, graduation rate, and salary after attending. You can also compare average debt, typical monthly payment of students who completed a degree, and the percent of students paying down their debt (a sign that former students can afford to pay back their loans).
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Visit consumerfinance.gov for tools and resources to help you make informed financial decisions about paying for college.
Visit consumerfinance.gov for tools and resources to help you make informed financial decisions about paying for college.
Federal Student Aid (part of the U.S. Department of Education)
Visit studentaid.gov for:
Visit studentaid.gov for:
- Information about the FAFSA and student loan forgiveness and relief programs.
- Glossary of student loan terms.
- Information about borrower defense relief and closed school discharge.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Get tips on how to avoid common scams.
Get tips on how to avoid common scams.
National Association for College Admission Counseling
Get sample questions to ask before you enroll in a school or training program.
Get sample questions to ask before you enroll in a school or training program.
New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
- Visit nyc.gov/studentloans for all tips:
- "Before You Enroll in a School or Training Program”
- “Before You Take out Student Loans for Yourself or a Child”
- “Once You Have Student Loans”
- Visit nyc.gov/dcwp or call 311 for debt collection complaints
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)
Find the college that’s the right fit for you. Click “Prepare.”
Find the college that’s the right fit for you. Click “Prepare.”
U.S. Department of Education
Get a list of things to consider before taking out a loan for your education.
Get a list of things to consider before taking out a loan for your education.
Scam Alerts!
BEWARE OF ...
Predatory Schools
There are hundreds of for-profit schools in New York City that enroll New Yorkers in courses for everything from air conditioning repair and cosmetology to medical technician training. Some use high-pressure recruiting tactics and may mislead you into taking out a lot of financial aid and then make it difficult to complete your degree so you’re forced to take out more aid.
College Scholarships and Financial Aid Scams
Many scammers prey on students and parents by promising scholarships in exchange for an advance fee. The scammers do not award scholarships and will not refund the fee. Other scammers charge a processing fee to apply for scholarships on students’ behalf, but the “scholarships” are not real.
Student Loan “Debt Relief” Scams
Scammers take advantage of students by falsely promising loan forgiveness through federal programs that don’t exist and charging students high up-front and ongoing fees for services that are freely available.