An emerging way to finance tuition, income-share agreements (ISAs) show promise for improving college access, retention and completion, but some argue that consumer protection guidelines are essential. Through ISAs, students receive financing for their programs upfront and typically agree to pay it back as a share of their income over a set period of time once their earnings reach a certain level. More than 40 colleges, as well as other education providers, offer ISAs, and interest is growing as the sector grapples with how to address the nation’s ballooning student debt load.
