Students’ rights are under assault. We’re fighting back.

Student Defense works to advance educational opportunity and ensure that higher education provides a launching point for economic mobility.

About us
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Making Relief Automatic for Borrowers with Total and Permanent Disabilities
Making Relief Automatic for Borrowers with Total and Permanent Disabilities

Over 633,000 borrowers obtain more than $18.7 billion in discharges

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THE NEW YORK TIMES: Caltech Agrees to Settle Lawsuit Accusing It of Misleading Students
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Caltech Agrees to Settle Lawsuit Accusing It of Misleading Students

A student who paid thousands for a tech boot camp said it was “a Caltech program in name only.”

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Stopping the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education
Stopping the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education

NAACP et al. v. The United States of America, et al.

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Court denies Grand Canyon's motion to dismiss Students' RICO, Consumer Lawsuit
Court denies Grand Canyon's motion to dismiss Students' RICO, Consumer Lawsuit

Smith v. Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

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Landmark settlement reached in class-action lawsuit against Walden University over targeting Black and female students with false advertising
Landmark settlement reached in class-action lawsuit against Walden University over targeting Black and female students with false advertising

Court previously determined "reverse redlining" claims are actionable in college recruiting context

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Our work

Our focus spans the entire student lifecycle, from recruitment to educational quality to completion to student loan repayment

Featured
Litigation Efforts
Litigation Efforts

Defending students’ rights through legal action.

Democracy and Oversight
Democracy and Oversight

Holding federal agencies accountable for upholding the rule of law.

AI in Higher Education
AI in Higher Education

Ensuring AI is developed and deployed responsibly in higher education.

Advocacy and State Policy
Advocacy and State Policy

Stopping predatory practices and promoting effective, data-driven rulemaking.

Anti-Poverty and Basic Needs
Anti-Poverty and Basic Needs

Supporting students struggling to access food, housing and childcare.

Civil Rights
Civil Rights

Ensuring every student has an equal opportunity to earn a meaningful degree.

Student stories: The faces of the for-profit crisis

Each year tens of thousands of American college students fall victim to predatory for-profit colleges. These are their stories.

Experience their stories

Support our work.

Our team is working around the clock to stop attacks on students and families — donate today.

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