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Useful addresses, phone numbers, and websites
Button image linking to the Corporate Consumer Contacts listed in the FCIC Handbook.
Button image linking to the Car Manufacturers and Dispute Resolution Programs listed in the FCIC Handbook.
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Button image linking to the State Banking Authorities listed in the FCIC Handbook.
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Button image linking to the State Securities Administrators listed in the FCIC Handbook.
Button image linking to the State Utilities Commissions listed in the FCIC Handbook.
Button image linking to the State Weights and Measures Offices listed in the FCIC Handbook.
Button image linking to the Selected Federal Agencies listed in the FCIC Handbook.
Button image linking to the Better Business Bureaus listed in the FCIC Handbook.
Button image linking to the National Consumer Organizations listed in the FCIC Handbook.
Button image linking to the Trade and Professional Associations listed in the FCIC Handbook.
Button image linking to the U.S. Military Consumer Services Programs and Commissary and Exchange Offices listed in the FCIC Handbook.


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Education - General Tips

Choosing a college or career school is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. School is a big investment of time, money, and effort, whether it’s a four-year university, a two-year program or a trade or professional school, so you should carefully evaluate your options.

• Does the school offer the courses and type of program you want?

• Does the school offer services you need and activities you’re interested in?

• What are the school’s completion and transfer-out rates? A school is required to disclose this information to prospective students.

• What percentage of recent graduates has been placed in jobs relevant to their course of study? If the school advertises its job placement rates, it must also publish the most recent employment statistics, graduation statistics, and any other information necessary to back up its claims.

• What is the school’s loan default rate? In other words, what percentage of students who took out federal student loans later failed to repay their loans on time. You might not be able to get federal aid for a school that has a high default rate.

• What crimes are occurring on campus and what security programs are in place to insure your safety? The school must provide you with a summary of its annual security report. The Department of Education posts crime statistics for many schools at www.ope.ed.gov/security.

• What financial aid is available at the school? Request specifics such as application procedures and deadlines, how recipients are selected, the types of assistance available, plus how and when aid will be received.

• What are the school’s refund policies? If you enroll but never begin classes, you should get most of your money back. If you begin attending classes but leave before completing your coursework, you may be able to get part of your money back.

Most of this information is covered in a school’s catalog or brochures. You can also find a lot of information on the Internet – many colleges and career schools have websites. If you know others who attend or attended a school you’re considering, ask about their experiences and opinions.

Talk to a high school counselor, local employers, and the state higher education agency. You can also see if any complaints about the school have been filed with Better Business Bureau offices. The state higher education agency and BBB offices are also the places to go when you have a complaint about a school.

Just because a school participates in federal student financial aid programs does not mean the school offers quality education.
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This service is provided by the Federal Citizen Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration. If you have a comment or question, e-mail