Are Income Share Agreements Fair?: A Close Look at the Potential Risks and Benefits of an Emerging Financial Aid Option

In this Perspective, the authors examine the income share agreement (ISA), through which students can obtain funding for postsecondary education in exchange for a share of future income. Benefits include increased access to postsecondary education and less risk for those who do not obtain well-paying jobs. However, the lack of regulation may incentivize ISA-offering programs to create contracts that further entrench economic inequities.