Final “A Dream Derailed” Report on College Closures Released

Outlines Policy Levers for Supporting Students Impacted by College Closures

Between 2004 and 2020, nearly 500 higher education institutions shuttered their doors, impacting the lives of more than 140,000 students. In a collaborative effort, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) joined forces with the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center to conduct a comprehensive three-part research initiative to shed light on the fate of students when their educational institutions abruptly close.

The third and final report in this series, “A Dream Derailed? Investigating the Causal Effects of Student Protection Authorization Policies on Student Outcomes after College Closure,” was released in August 2023. This concluding chapter outlined the policy levers states can employ to support students navigating the aftermath of their college closing.

Additional Resources:

• Read the “A Dream Derailed” report series

• Visit the Clearinghouse’s Research Center