Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

California Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) Disclosures

The STRF is a fund administered by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (Bureau) that relieves or mitigates economic loss suffered by a student while enrolled in a qualifying institution – generally, one that is approved or registered by the Bureau. At the time of his or her enrollment, the student must have been a California resident or enrolled in a California residency program, prepaid tuition, and suffered economic loss.

Effective April 1, 2024, the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) assessment rate will change from two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of institutional charges to zero dollar ($0.00) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of institutional charges. (5, CCR section 76120). Institutions will still be required to complete and submit all STRF Assessment Reporting Forms on a quarterly basis and maintain specified student information for STRF-eligible students.

STRF Requirements

Institutions approved or registered with the Bureau are required to comply with the following STRF requirements:

• Include STRF disclosures on both its enrollment agreement and school catalog (5 CCR Section 76215)
• Collect STRF assessments (if applicable) from each student in an educational program who is a California resident or is enrolled in a residency program (5, CCR section 76120)
• Collect the STRF assessment from each student in an educational program at the time it collects the first payment from or on behalf of the student at or after enrollment (5, CCR section 76130)
• Complete and submit quarterly STRF Assessment Reporting Form and remit payment (if applicable) to the Bureau no later than the last day of the month following the close of the quarter (5 CCR section 76130).

You may be eligible for STRF if you are a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The school closed before the course of instruction was completed.

2. The school’s failure to pay refunds or charges on behalf of a student to a third party for license fees or any other purpose, or to provide equipment or materials for which a charge was collected within 180 days before the closure of the school.

3. The school’s failure to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federally guaranteed student loan program as required by law or to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the school prior to closure in excess of tuition and other costs.

4. There was a material failure to comply with Act of this Division within 30 days before the school closed or, if the material failure began earlier than 30 days prior to closure, the period determined by the Bureau.

5. An inability after diligent efforts to prosecute, prove, and collect on a judgment against the institution for a violation of the Act.

It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to:

Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

1747 North Market Blvd., Suite 225
Sacramento, California, 95834
(916) 574-8900 or (888) 370-7589
e-mail [email protected].

To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or discontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.

2. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution within the 120 days period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120 days period before the program was discontinued.

3. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.

4. The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.

5. The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law, or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.

6. You have been awarded restitution, a refund, or other monetary award by an arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from the institution.

7. You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.

To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF.

A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of noncollection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.