Higher Education Institutions’ Credit Loss Recognition

The current expected credit loss (CECL) accounting guidance represents a forward-looking methodology for determining credit loss provisions by private colleges and universities’ lending activities beginning with fiscal year 2023-2024. The discussion presents information regarding the types and amounts of lending activities private colleges and universities engage in and the rationale of their lending programs. Provisions of the accounting guidance together implementation decisions, processes, and disclosures are part of the review. The study concludes with the accounting guidance’s impact on higher education fiscal decision making, financial reporting, and the ramifications of the guidance to provide useful information to both higher education management and financial statement users.