Protecting Education Consumers

The state’s Degree-Granting Institutions Act protects Washington consumers from substandard, fraudulent, and deceptive activities at degree-granting colleges and universities authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council.

The law has many benefits:

  • Students are guaranteed consumer protection under state law.

  • Employers can rely on the credibility of institutional degree programs.

  • If  a school closes, the state can intervene to preserve student records

  • Information collected through the authorization process assists Council staff in determining statewide program needs.
     

Unfair Business Practice Complaints

Students who believe they have lost tuition and fees as the result of unfair business practices by institutions authorized by the Council should outline their concerns and send them with contact information to dainfo@wsac.wa.gov.  Examples of unfair business practices include misrepresenting faculty qualifications or making false claims in a college catalog.

The Council also administers the Foreign Degree-granting Branch Campus Act, which applies to foreign colleges or universities that send students enrolled in programs in the country of origin to Washington for brief periods of study.
 

Links

Consumer Alerts: (Univ. of Northern Washington; Unmanned Vehicle Univ.)

False Academic Credentials

What If My College Closes? - Transcript Request Form

What Is a Diploma Mill?

Credit Transfer Disputes - Transfer Issue Report Form

Scholarship Scams