# Education (GED)

## Title 15. Public Institutions of Higher Education

### Subtitle 1. General Provisions

#### Section 15-118

(a)

  (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

  (2)

    (i) "Debt" means any money, obligation, claim, or sum due or owed by a student to an institution of higher education.

    (ii) "Debt" includes:

      (1) Credit extended by or on behalf of the institution that a student is obligated to repay; and

      (2) A nonfederal loan or debt agreement that is issued expressly for postsecondary education expenses and that is guaranteed by:

      (A) An institution of higher education; or

      (B) A private educational lender that is affiliated with an institution of higher education.

    (iii) "Debt" does not include the fee, if any, charged to a student for the actual costs of providing a transcript.

  (3) "Student" includes current students and former students of an institution of higher education.

(b) An institution of higher education may not:

  (1) Refuse to provide a transcript to a student because the student owes a debt;

  (2) Condition the issuance of a transcript on the payment of a debt;

  (3) Charge a higher fee for obtaining a transcript because a student owes a debt;

  (4) Provide less favorable treatment of a transcript request because a student owes a debt; or

  (5) Use transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection.

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Md. Code Ann., Educ. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)