Protecting Colleges and Students: Community College Strategies to Prevent Default

Student loan default, defined as federal loan borrowers' failure to make any payments for at least 270 days, is an issue of increasing importance to community colleges and their students. This report takes a unique look at student loan default at nine community colleges across the nation, and how those colleges are working to help students avoid default. The 9 community colleges are: (1) Edmonds Community College; (2) Grossmont College; (3) Guilford Technical Community College; (4) Iowa Western Community College; (5) Lane Community College; (6) Minneapolis Community and Technical College; (7) Moraine Park Technical College; (8) St. Philip's College; and (9) Valencia College. The following are appended: (1) Methodology; and (2) FY 2010 Cohort Default Rate Data for Sample Colleges. A glossary is also included.