The education sector is confronting two very different, yet equally pressing, accountability issues. In the Indian state of Rajasthan, officials have linked the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the presence of fully functioning sanitation facilities on campus. At the same time, a recent analysis from the U.S. Education Department reveals that more than four in ten recent borrowers are failing to repay their federal student loans, a trend that threatens the sustainability of federal aid programs.
Both stories underscore a broader narrative: institutions that receive public support are expected to meet basic standards that protect health, safety, and financial well-being of students. While the Indian directive focuses on physical infrastructure, the American data shines a light on the financial outcomes of the education model many for-profit schools employ. Together, they paint a picture of how policy can be used to enforce quality and accountability across continents.
Rajasthan mandates functional toilets for college approvals
On September 3, the Commissionerate of College Education in Rajasthan issued a circular that makes operational toilets a prerequisite for any private college seeking an NOC. The order references the private institute policy of 2021-22 and spells out precise ratios: one toilet for every 40 female students, an additional urinal for every 20 girls, one toilet for every 80 male students, and a urinal for every 20 boys. A separate, dedicated restroom must also be available for staff members.
The circular goes beyond mere fixtures. It obliges institutions to install proper drainage, sturdy roofs, secure doors and latches, and to maintain the facilities with regular cleaning. Water supply must be reliable, with overhead tanks and distinct connections for toilet use, alongside drinking-water stations. Commissioner Nathmal Didel emphasized that non-compliance will lead to the immediate withdrawal of the NOC, and the college will face “coercive actions” as mandated by the department.
Enforcement and expected impact
Department officials announced that routine inspections will be scheduled to verify that colleges adhere to the new standards. Failure to meet any of the stipulated conditions will result in the loss of the NOC, effectively barring the institution from operating legally. A senior official noted that proper sanitation is a “basic facility” and that inadequate toilets often discourage students from drinking enough water, potentially leading to health issues. By tying the NOC to sanitation, the state aims to safeguard student health and improve campus conditions across private higher-education institutions.
U.S. colleges face soaring student-loan default rates
Data released by the U.S. Education Department shows that among roughly 17 million borrowers who entered repayment between January 2020 and May 2025, more than 40 percent are delinquent or in default. The most troubling figures emerge from for-profit schools: of the 500 institutions with non-payment rates at or above 40 percent, 424 are private, for-profit colleges. Schools such as UE I College, Tulsa Welding School, Miller-Motte College and several cosmetology academies appear prominently on the list.
UE I College, a California-based chain with 22 campuses, tops the chart with a 55 percent non-payment rate among its recent borrowers—nearly 32 000 students. Former student Lisa Collenbaugh recounts paying almost $20 000 for a short-term computer-systems program that failed to deliver the promised career outcomes, leaving her with an outstanding balance of $10 389.47. Similar stories echo across other institutions, where high tuition and low post-graduation earnings combine to create a “predatory” loan environment.
Implications for federal aid and taxpayers
Because many of these schools rely heavily on federal student-aid dollars, the high default rates raise serious questions about the continued eligibility of such institutions for federal funding. Analysts at the American Enterprise Institute argue that a private lender would refuse to finance a school with a 40-50 percent delinquency rate, suggesting that the federal government should adopt a comparable stance. Education Department Undersecretary Nicholas Kent warned that schools must either improve outcomes or risk losing access to taxpayer-funded aid.
Public and nonprofit colleges, by contrast, display average non-payment rates near 15 percent, highlighting a stark disparity between profit-driven models and traditional higher-education structures. Experts note that programs with lower earning potential—such as cosmetology and barbering—naturally see higher default rates, but the magnitude observed points to systemic issues in program quality and loan servicing.
Both the Rajasthan sanitation directive and the U.S. loan-default findings illustrate how governmental oversight can be harnessed to protect students—whether through physical health safeguards or financial stability measures. As policymakers grapple with these challenges, the ultimate goal remains clear: ensure that the promise of higher education translates into tangible, sustainable benefits for every student.
