The Need for an Earlier Strategy Student balances are not an isolated edge case. NACUBO’s 2026 Student Financial Services Benchmarking Report found that the average ratio of students with unpaid balances to current student headcount reached 35.3% in fiscal year 2025. The measure includes both current and former students, underscoring how unresolved balances can remain with institutions beyond a single term. (NACUBO, 2026, Table 4) At the same time, colleges and universities have fewer administrative levers available. Federal limits on transcript withholding have prompted institutions to reconsider how they address balances before they become long-term receivables. Among institutions responding to NACUBO’s question about new strategies, 47.8% reported increasing communication, outreach or education. (NACUBO, 2026, Figure 1) That shift is important. A hold or a collection notice can communicate a consequence, but it cannot determine why a student has not paid, explain a confusing charge or connect the student to the person who can resolve an institutional issue. Those outcomes require a conversation.
3
Powered by FlippingBook