If you are trying to figure out where to eat, shop, or have fun, most people these days turn toward rating platforms such as Yelp or Google Reviews. With a plethora of information and a desire to save some money on an experience that could be a financial loss, rating platforms help us all get the most bang for our buck. But what if this rating system was also available for schools? Would the reviews be fair, and what effect would this have on students and families looking for quality education?

Federal College Rankings?

In January 2023, the Federal Registrar issued a notice indicating that they were requesting information from the public regarding transparency for low-value post-secondary programs. The period for public comment will expire on February 10, 2023. After the period for public comment has closed, the Biden Administration plans to publish a list of “programs that are considered to have a low financial value to students and taxpayers.” This list would hopefully then help parents and students determine where programs stood in terms of their educational quality and financial risk. Taking into consideration the many personal and financial sacrifices low-income students must make to attend a post-secondary institution, this list would help them make more informed decisions. For instance, if a student worked several summers to save enough money for tuition at a technical institute or a liberal arts college, they could review the list to determine the quality of education prior to choosing their school and potentially wasting thousands of dollars.

While some opponents of the list have likened it to “shaming tactics,” which “publicly call out institutions with poor incomes,” some might argue that this is the exact information needed to shed light on institutions that are taking money without exactly delivering on their promises. In many instances, students and parents can fall prey to sly marketing tactics that over-promise quality and fail to deliver results.

For instance, in 2019, the American Bar Association announced that Thomas Jefferson Law School would be stripped of its national accreditation. Although the reasons for the decision were nuanced, many students were lured to the San Diego Law School with the promise of passing the bar and securing employment. Unfortunately, the school's bar passage rate steadily declined until it ranked bottom in the state. Students attending the school had difficulties securing post-bar employment as employers questioned the quality of education they received.

Has Your School Failed To Deliver? An Education Attorney Can Help.

Although we are trained to believe all schools are well-intentioned, at the end of the day, they are a business. Just like any other business, they have financial incentives, marketing campaigns, and varying levels of transparency. If you have enrolled at a school and feel as though you are not receiving a quality education or were misled about the education you would receive, national education advocate Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm can help. Attorney Lento and his Team can represent your interests to the school and help carve a path forward for you that respects your money and your future. Contact us today by calling (888) 535-3686 or through our online contact form.