OUR RESEARCH & REPORTS
Our published reports regarding college accountability and students’ rights.
Evaluation of Federal College Search Tools for Veterans, Service Members, and their Families
Service members, veterans, and their families represent a unique group of prospective students who often approach higher education without the same support systems or experience as traditional students. Many are first-generation students navigating an unfamiliar, [...]
Lessons for Title IV from an Analysis of GI Bill Outcomes
I. Executive Summary The Post-9/11 GI Bill represents an idealized college financing plan, covering full tuition and fees at public colleges (or up to $29,000 at private institutions), plus housing and book allowances. This comprehensive [...]
Despite a Long History of Employee Conflicts of Interest with For-Profit Schools, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Oversight is Insufficient
As examined in this report, examples of conflicts of interest continue, including an SAA employee who accepted a gift basket from the school, which the SAA was charged with overseeing; the school also offered “extensive” [...]
The Student Veteran Experience with Transcript Withholding
Colleges frequently withhold their students’ academic transcripts for balances due, even when the debt is disputed. Indeed, transcript withholding is one of the most common debt collection tactics used by colleges across all sectors. Many [...]
Veterans with Student Loans They Never Authorized or Wanted
Following publication of our report, the U.S. Department of Education reached out to request a meeting to discuss our findings. Soon thereafter, the Department sent a warning letter to all colleges and universities nationwide, available [...]
Summary of Veteran and Servicemember Student Complaints about Perdoceo Education Corporation
I. Introduction This memo analyzes and provides representative examples of over 500 complaints from military-connected students who attended schools owned by the Perdoceo Education Corporation, formerly known as the Career Education Corporation and referred to [...]
Veteran and Servicemember Complaints about Misconduct and Illegal Practices at Dream Center schools
Introduction This memo summarizes and analyzes complaints received by Veterans Education Success from military-connected students who attended Dream Center schools. These schools were formerly owned by Education Management Corporation (EDMC), which closed some schools [...]
Our Analysis: Project’s Findings on the Effect of Closing the 90/10 Loophole Have Serious Shortcomings
In February 2021, the Veterans Education Project (the Project) released a report on the impact of closing the 90/10 loophole. The report’s authors were Jason Delisle, a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), [...]
Purdue Global/Kaplan – Recent Actions and Concerns
Purdue Global (Kaplan) Recent Actions and Concerns In March 2018, Purdue University finalized the acquisition of Kaplan University, a for-profit institution offering primarily online education. Kaplan University transferred 14 campuses, 30,000 students, and 2,100 faculty [...]
DeVry University – Recent Actions and Concerns
DeVry University Recent Actions and Concerns DeVry University is currently owned by Cogswell Education LLC, after changing ownership several times in the past from DeVry Educational Group to Adtalem Global Education. Cogswell Education is controlled [...]
Colorado Technical University, American InterContinental University, & Trident University – Recent Actions and Concerns
Colorado Technical University, American InterContinental University, & Trident University Recent Actions and Concerns Colorado Technical University (CTU), American InterContinental University (AIU), and Trident University are owned by the for-profit company Perdoceo Education Corporation, publicly traded on the [...]
University of Phoenix – Recent Actions and Concerns
University of Phoenix Recent Actions and Concerns University of Phoenix is a for-profit college owned by Apollo Global Management, previously publicly-traded on the U.S. stock market. The company’s stock suffered after numerous government investigations revealed [...]
OUR ADVOCACY LETTERS
Veterans Education Success works with our military and veteran allies to send policy advice to government officials.
16 Military & Veteran Organizations’ Letter to CFPB on the Military Lending Act
February 18, 2025 Acting Director Russell Vought Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 1700 G St NW Washington, D.C. 20552 Dear Acting Director Vought: The undersigned military and veterans service organizations represent millions of current and former [...]
Our Oral Comment to NACIQI Regarding the Council on Occupational Education- February 2024 Meeting
Veterans Education Success Oral Testimony Regarding the Council on Occupational Education (COE)’s Oversight of Florida Career College National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity U.S. Department of Education Wednesday, February 28, 2024 The history [...]
Coalition Letter to the House Education Committee re: lowering college costs and increasing value
July 26, 2023 The Honorable Burgess Owens Chairman, House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development The Honorable Frederica S. Wilson Ranking Member, House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Dear Chairman Owens and [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding Hussian College
July 19, 2023 Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Re: Hussian College Closing Dear Director Garcia, We write to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the appropriate [...]
Our Follow-Up to VA re: Risk-Based Survey SOPs
July 10, 2023 James Ruhlman, Deputy Director Program Management Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Dear Mr. Ruhlman, In response to concerns we raised about the standard operating procedures for the risk-based surveys as [...]
Letter Reply from VA re: Risk-Based Survey SOPs (June 15, 2023)
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Veterans Benefits Administration Washington, D.C. 20420 June 15, 2023 Carrie Wofford, President Veterans Education Success 1501 K St., Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 Dear Ms. Wofford: Thank you for your letter, [...]
Student Veteran Submission: Zack Fenton Testimony to the Department of Education
Good morning. I’m Zack Fenton, I’m an Army veteran, and I would like to share some details about my experience at IntelliTec College. I enrolled in an automotive program in early 2020. I specifically shared [...]
Our Follow-Up to VA re: Risk-Based Survey SOPs
June 1, 2023 Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Re: Risk-Based Surveys Dear Director Garcia: Thank you for your response to our previous letter concerning the implementation of risk-based [...]
Student Veteran Submission: Glen Stroman Testimony to the Department of Education
Good morning/afternoon. I’m Glen Stroman, and I am a veteran who attended Grand Canyon University to earn my doctorate. I am a teacher and I have advised students on college choices, so I did my [...]
Student Veteran Submission: Nicholas Whatley Testimony to the Department of Education
Hello, I am Nicholas Whatley and I am a Navy Veteran. In about 2017 I enrolled in Hallmark University’s Airframe and Powerplant Technology Associate’s program to get my civilian aviation certification. I was there for [...]
Student Veteran Submission: Tyler Dean Testimony to the Department of Education
Hello, my name is Tyler Dean. I am an Air Force veteran. I enrolled in Keiser University’s online accelerated Applied Engineering degree in 2021 to become an engineer. Keiser’s admissions counselors knew I wanted to [...]
Student Veteran Submission: Deborah Butrim Testimony to the Department of Education
Good morning/afternoon. I’m Deborah Butrim, and I served in the Army for 20 years. Towards the end of my service, I enrolled in a PhD program at Walden University. I was going to enroll at [...]
MORE NEWS & INFO
Statement for the Record for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Hearing on Chapter 35 Payment Delays
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY 119TH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION December 16, 2025 Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and Members of the Subcommittee: We [...]
Our Statement for the Record on the Topic of “Path of Purpose: Restoring the VA VR&E Program to Effectively Serve Veterans”
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY 119TH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION JULY 16, 2025 Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and Members of the Subcommittee: We [...]
Inside Higher Ed: Trump Admin. Tweaks 90-10 Regs
“The problem is if you allow this kind of arbitrary and capricious behavior on a relatively small gatekeeping mechanism, tomorrow, you may read that a whole bunch of other much more foundational gatekeeping metrics are [...]
Military.com: Food Assistance Cuts Softened, Veterans Education Benefits Protected in Senate Version of Trump Agenda Bill
"We are very grateful to [Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill] Cassidy for listening to veterans and holding the line on 90/10 and some other key provisions," Carrie Wofford, president of Veterans Education Success, said in [...]
Statement for the Record for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Legislative Hearing
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD LEGISLATIVE HEARING HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY June 11, 2025 Chairman Van Order and Ranking Member Pappas, We thank you for the opportunity to provide a statement [...]
Advocates push Senate to drop changes in 90/10 rule for vets benefits
Veterans groups in recent weeks unsuccessfully lobbied House leaders to drop the provision before passing the reconciliation bill. The new effort includes a broader array of groups including Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, [...]
Letter from 32 Veterans and military organizations to the Senate opposing repeal of 90/10
May 28, 2025 The Honorable Mike Johnson Speaker U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries Democratic Leader U.S. House of Representatives The Honorable John Thune Majority Leader U.S. Senate The Honorable Charles Schumer Democratic [...]
Our message to the Senate HELP Committee: Say “No” to Cutting Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits & Wasting $1.6 Billion
From: Veterans Education Success Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM ET To: Senate HELP Committee Subject: Say “No” to Cutting Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits & Wasting $1.6 Billion Good afternoon. At a time when Congress is working to [...]
Message to the House of Representatives on the harms of repealing 90/10
Date: Friday, May 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM Subject: Say “No” to Hurting Veterans & Wasting $1.6 Billion At a time when Congress is focusing on cutting waste, we want to draw your attention to a special-interest [...]
Inside Higher Ed: TRIO on the Chopping Block
"You could criticize a lot of federal education programs for very obvious gaps. TRIO ain’t one of them." —Barmak Nassirian, Veterans Education Success The programs are an important resource for veterans, too, said Barmak Nassirian, [...]
The Hill: School scammers are robbing veterans and the government blind
This should alarm every American, as it represents the epitome of government fraud, waste and abuse. The team at Veterans Education Success, where I work, obtained documents through open records laws to determine exactly how veterans [...]
Military.com: For-Profit Colleges Would Be Freed to Scam Veterans Again Under GOP Bill, Advocates Say
"The 90/10 rule is a modest market-viability requirement that ensures that the federal government isn't the only source of a college's revenues," Barmak Nassirian, vice president for higher education policy at the advocacy group Veterans [...]
ISSUES
Policy issues of Veterans Education Success
Veterans Education Success works to improve post-secondary quality and student outcomes to ensure military-connected students enjoy a solid education leading to a successful civilian career. You will find research reports and coalition letters related to college quality and student outcomes.
Veterans Education Success seeks to ensure students have adequate protections and rights and also believes bad actor colleges should be held accountable if they’ve trampled on students’ rights. You will find research reports and coalition letters related to student protections and college accountability.
Vterans Education Success works to protect the GI Bill and other federal education benefits.