College Completion

Student Loan Default Rates Increase

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that the FY 2008 national cohort default rate is 7.0 percent, up from the FY 2007 rate of 6.7 percent. The default rates increased from 5.9 to 6 percent for public institutions, from 3.7 to 4 percent for private institutions, and from 11 to 11.6 percent for for-profit schools.

Proposed Rule Links Federal Student Aid to Loan Repayment Rates and Debt-to-Earnings Levels for Career College Graduates

The Obama Administration released today its proposed regulations requiring for-profit career colleges to better prepare students for "gainful employment" or risk losing access to federal student aid. The proposed rules seek to protect students from taking on unsustainable debt they cannot repay and to protect taxpayers from high loan default rates.

The Win-Win Solution: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the Council of Chief State School Officers and State Higher Education Executive Officers' 2010 Joint Summer Meeting

Thank you, Paul and Gene, for that generous introduction. Your leadership, commitment, and courage have been absolutely extraordinary. I can't thank you enough for your hard work and partnership.

I'm excited to join you here this morning at CCSSO and SHEEO's first joint meeting. This conference marks the flowering of an important collaboration that should be celebrated.

Under Secretary Martha J. Kanter's Remarks at the Excelsior College Commencement

President Ebersole, Chairman Yepp, distinguished guests, faculty, families, friends, and, most especially, the Excelsior Class of 2010, students, thank you for inviting me to speak at your commencement.

U.S. Department of Education Marks Historic Day in Higher Education

Federal student aid will increase and become more accessible for millions of college students and their families under provisions of the recently passed Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which take effect today. The biggest and most important change is the elimination of the bank-based, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program.

Departments of Education and Justice Announce Continuing Commitment to Accessible Technology for All Students

Today, the Departments of Justice and Education announced the publication of a joint 'Dear Colleague' letter reaffirming the agencies' commitment to ensuring students with disabilities have equal access to emerging technologies in institutions of higher education.

The Link in the Chain: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the De Anza College Commencement

Thank you, President Murphy. It's a pleasure to be here this morning to join in celebrating the class of 2010's success.

I want to begin with a confession today: I was a little intimidated to learn about some of the celebrity orators who speak at commencement ceremonies in the Bay Area.

The Protean Career: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the Foothill College Commencement

Thank you, President Miner, for that very generous introduction and for your extraordinary leadership. It's an honor to be here this evening, and to join in celebrating the class of 2010's success.

U.S. Education Secretary Duncan Commemorates 38th Anniversary of Title IX

On the 38th anniversary of Title IX, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan applauded the landmark legislation that prohibits institutions receiving federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of sex.

The Relevance of Liberal Arts to a Prosperous Democracy: Under Secretary Martha J. Kanter’s Remarks at the Annapolis Group Conference

Thank you, Mark, for that gracious introduction. It's a pleasure to be here today to meet the Annapolis Group, to discuss the significance of the liberal arts in general, to address what I think are several popular misconceptions about liberal arts colleges and universities, and to open a dialogue with you to reach President Obama's 2020 goal.