Getting School Transcripts (When You Owe Money to the School)

Do I Have Any Rights to My School Transcripts?

Yes, you do have limited rights in this situation. The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives borrowers the right to review and inspect their school transcripts even if they owe money to the school. You may only be able to review unofficial transcripts, which are different from official transcripts.

While FERPA allows you to review your transcripts, you may not be able to obtain the “official transcripts'' from your school until you resolve the financial situation. 

Current and former college students usually need to provide official transcripts when they transfer to a new school, apply to a graduate program, or apply for a professional license from a licensing agency. Some employers may also request to see your official transcripts.

Note that FERPA applies to any schools that receive federal funds, which may include public colleges, private colleges, state universities, and community colleges.

What Gives Schools the Right To Withhold My Transcripts? 

Even with FERPA, withholding transcripts is well within the rights of the university, college, or community college that you owe money to. The institution may do this due to unpaid loans (such as defaulted federal student loans) or even something seemingly minor like outstanding on-campus parking tickets or library fines. 

The bottom line is that if you have unpaid debt related to your school, it may withhold your official academic records.

How Can I Get My Student Transcripts If I Owe Money?

If you’re trying to get your official transcript and being blocked because you owe your school money, you can try a few things to resolve the issue:

• Pay the fine or fees you owe.

• Negotiate with the school.

• Check the state law.

• File bankruptcy.

Let’s explore each option in more detail.

Pay the Fines/Fees You Owe

This might seem obvious, but often the easiest way to get the school to release your official transcripts is by simply paying the outstanding money you owe.

If your school is withholding your transcript for something as small as an unpaid parking fine, this will be easier to do. But if you owe a significant amount, you may have difficulty paying outright. If your financial obligation to the school is high, you may be able to negotiate a payment plan with the registrar’s office. Read the next section to see how to negotiate. 

Negotiate an Offer With the School

If you can’t afford to pay your school debt in full, you may be able to negotiate an offer to get your official transcript released. Schools don’t always agree to these deals, but it’s worth trying.

Here’s a three-step approach you can try:

1. Explain your financial hardship.

2. Offer to pay a portion of the debt.

3. Show how a job will help you pay.

If that doesn’t work you can try negotiating with your employer instead. We cover each step below.

Step 1: Explain Your Financial Hardship

If you're struggling financially, let the school know. Be honest about why you can’t pay the full amount right now. Some things to mention include:

• Job loss or unemployment

• Medical expenses or other financial hardships

• Unexpected life events that have affected your ability to pay

Step 2: Offer To Pay a Portion of the Debt

Some schools may agree to release your transcript if you pay part of what you owe upfront. You can say something like: "I can’t afford to pay the full $800 right now, but I can pay $300 today if you release my transcript."

If they agree, make sure to get written confirmation that they’ll release your transcript once you pay.

💡Pro Tip: If You Can’t Pay a Lump Sum, Try a Payment Plan

If you don’t have enough to make a lump-sum payment, you may be able to negotiate a repayment plan instead. Schools are often unwilling to reduce the total amount owed, but they may agree to let you pay over time.

To improve your chances of success:

• Provide proof of your financial situation, such as income, expenses, or medical bills.

• Suggest a monthly payment that fits your budget.

• Offer automatic monthly withdrawals from your bank account, which might convince the school to release your transcript before the full balance is paid.

Keep in mind that some schools won’t release your transcript until the entire debt is paid off. If that’s the case, you can try negotiating a partial payment instead.

Step 3: Show How a Job Will Help You Pay

If you're applying for a job that requires your transcript, explain how getting hired will help you repay the school. You might say something like: "The employer needs my official transcript before they can hire me. This job will allow me to start making payments toward my outstanding balance."

Some schools may consider this and agree to a partial payment or payment plan in exchange for releasing your transcript.

Negotiate With the Employer Instead

If the school won’t budge, try asking the employer if they’ll accept an unofficial transcript instead. Many employers are flexible, especially if they understand that a withheld transcript is blocking you from getting hired.

If negotiating with your school doesn’t work, you may still have options, such as checking state laws or exploring legal remedies like bankruptcy.

Call Your State's Department of Education or Check State Law

FERPA is a federal law that allows schools that receive federal funds to withhold official transcripts in certain cases. But your state may have different laws.

If the school is part of the state's public college or university system, contact the state Department of Education to ask about its transcript policies and laws. 

According to Best Colleges, withholding official transcripts is not allowed in the following 11 states:

• California

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Illinois

• Indiana*

• Maine

• Minnesota

• New York

• Ohio

• Oregon

• Virginia**

• Washington

*In Indiana, transcripts can be withheld in some cases. Under state law, schools can’t withhold transcripts if the student has paid $100–$300 on their student debt in the previous year.

**A 2024 Virginia law enacted a ban on withholding transcripts for students with debt below $500, or $1,000 for students with Pell Grants.

Can Filing Bankruptcy Help You Get Your School Transcripts?

Filing bankruptcy isn’t the right solution for everyone, but if you have a lot of other debt (like credit card debt or medical bills) in addition to student loans or student debt, it’s worth considering alongside other debt relief options. 

One major advantage of filing bankruptcy is that as soon as you file your petition, the automatic stay goes into effect. This stops all debt collection actions, which includes the withholding of your official academic transcripts. In other words, with the protection of the automatic stay, the school would be required to release your official college transcript.

When you file bankruptcy on student loan debt, you must file additional paperwork and go through a process called an adversary proceeding. The guidelines around this process changed in late 2022. The goal was to make it easier for folks to file bankruptcy on federal student loan debt. 

If you’re filing bankruptcy on other debt, it’s worth including your student loans. Upsolve may be able to help you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy and deal with your federal student loans. Take our free screener to see if you’re eligible. 

Upsolve is a nonprofit that has helped over 15,000 low-income people get rid of over $700 million of debt. Our services are 100% free.

Let’s Summarize…

Higher education is expensive. Even with financial aid, getting a bachelor’s degree may take more financial resources than you have. If you leave school with an unpaid balance, the school can refuse to provide you with official transcripts, which you may need to get into another school, for a job, or to get a professional license. If this happens, you can pay any outstanding fees/fines, negotiate a payment plan or deal, or file for bankruptcy to get access to your official transcripts. You should also check your state’s laws to see if they prohibit schools from withholding transcripts.