**GAO-07-750**                      Published: Jul 31, 2007. Publicly Released: Jul 31, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

Concerns have been raised about the Department of Education's (Education) role in overseeing the lenders and schools that participate in the largest of the federal government's student loan programs, the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). GAO was asked to analyze Education's use of its oversight, guidance, and enforcement authorities under FFELP. To do this, GAO reviewed departmental documents and federal laws, regulations, and cases and interviewed officials from Education and the student loan industry.

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## Topics

Auditing and Financial Management

Audit oversightEducation program evaluationEthical conductFederal aid programsFederal regulationsHigher educationInternal controlsLending institutionsNoncomplianceProtocolsStudent financial aidStudent loansSanctions