An income share agreement (ISA) is an innovative financing tool used by education and training providers that ties the amount that learners pay to the amount of money they earn after completion. Students pay a fixed percentage of their income (an “income share”) over a defined period, and students earning below a specified threshold make no payment.

As is often the case with emergent models, there are opportunities and risks associated with ISAs. This is why it is vital that policymakers and regulatory agencies provide clear definitions, parameters, and consumer protections for learners.

These videos—through learner experiences—provide an explanation of ISAs: what they are, how they work, and how they can be utilized in education and training contexts.

Through our engagement, JFF seeks to clarify the issues, help identify guardrails that ensure responsible innovation and experimentation, and catalyze new equitable ISA models and policies—all with the goal of ensuring the needs of learners remain at the center.