Student Assistance
How Can OSAR Help Me?
The Office of Student Assistance and Relief (OSAR) provides individualized assistance to California residents selecting a private college, and it counsels California students as they navigate their financial and academic future following the closure or unlawful activities of the private college they attended. OSAR also helps students identify, obtain, complete, and submit financial relief documents.
What Should I Do If My School is Closing or Has Closed?
The Office of Student Assistance and Relief (OSAR) helps students access state and federal relief programs when private colleges in California close or discontinue their educational programs. If you have been affected by the closure of a private college or a program of a private college, it’s important to know that you have rights and options. Here are some general steps you should take in order to take control of your future.
- Enrollment Agreement
- Transcripts
- Student Ledger
- Once you have completed and submitted a STRF application to our office, we require that all applicable students seek relief from various federal agencies before we could determine that the student is eligible to receive a reimbursement from the STRF.
- Closed School Loan Discharge Application
- This application exists to help students who were unable to complete their programs due to school closure and utilized federal student loans to fund their education. By receiving a closed school loan discharge, you have no further obligation to repay your student loan, you will receive reimbursement of payments made voluntarily or through forced collection, and the record of the loan and all repayment history associated with the loan, including any adverse history, will be deleted from your credit report.
- Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment Application
- This application exists to help students who may have graduated or completed their programs from their institutions but believe that they may be eligible to receive loan forgiveness of their federal student loans. It’s important to know that you still are responsible for repaying your student loans taken out to finance your education at your closed school. However, students—who attended a school and believe they were defrauded or that their school otherwise violated applicable state law—may be eligible for a type of loan forgiveness called “borrower defense to repayment” (or “borrower defense”).
- Education Benefit Entitlement Restoration Request Due to School Closure or Withdrawal (VA Form 22-0989)
- This form exists for former servicemembers of the U.S. Armed Forces who have utilized their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits to fund their education. This form is used to apply for restoration of entitlement for VA education benefits used at a school that closed or had its approval to receive VA benefits withdrawn.
Although there are many benefits to attending private colleges, students should be aware of the potential risks.
A school closure can be an experience filled with a lot of uncertainty, which can lead to a lot of stress and confusion on what to do next. It is important to know what to do if your school is closing or has closed. Here is a guide and some resources to help you understand your rights and options as a California student:
Guide for Students Facing School Closure
Application for Student Tuition Recovery Fund
Office of Student Assistance and Relief Flyer
Frequently Asked Questions
Submit a Complaint
If you would like to file a complaint against a California private college, please submit the complaint to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education - Complaint Form
Additional Resources
- California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
- California Department of Veterans Affairs
- California Student Aid Commission
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Federal Student Aid
- What Can OSAR Do For You?
- What To Consider When Selecting a College
Please direct any questions for the OSAR to (888) 370-7589, Option #5 or email us at [email protected].