States of Denial: Where Community College Students Lack Access to Federal Student Loans

Every year, millions of college students borrow money to help bridge the gap between college costs and available income, savings, and grants. Experts agree that, for those who need to borrow to pay for college, federal student loans are the safest and most affordable option. Unfortunately, some colleges choose not to participate in the federal student loan program, preventing their students from borrowing federal loans when needed. This is The Institute for College Access & Success' fifth assessment of federal student loan participation at community colleges across the country. The authors identified 15 colleges that have left the loan program since 2013-14, eight of which are in North Carolina. Seven colleges have joined the loan program, five of which are in Louisiana. In addition to national averages and state-by-state data for 2015-16, this issue brief takes a deeper look at activity in California, North Carolina, and Louisiana. A Participation Rate Index (PRI) Worksheet is appended.