NJ S1338

Colleges, universities, and licensed degree-granting proprietary institutions in New Jersey are prohibited from withholding transcripts from current or former students due to unpaid account balances.

Institutions cannot refuse transcripts, condition transcript release on debt payment, charge higher fees, or provide less favorable treatment of transcript requests because a student owes money.

Standard transcript processing fees may still be charged to all students for the actual cost of providing transcripts.

Institutions must provide transcripts within 10 business days of a student's request or face penalties of $500 per day for each day of noncompliance.

The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to all institutions of higher education in the state.