Fail State

Date TBA

Fail State investigates the dark side of American higher education, chronicling the decades of policy decisions in Washington DC that have given rise to a powerful and highly-predatory for-profit college industry. With echoes of the subprime mortgage crisis, the film lays bare how for-profit colleges exploit millions of low-income and minority students, leaving them with worthless degrees and drowning in student loan debt. Director Alexander Shebanow traces the rise, fall, and resurgence of the for-profit college industry, revealing their Wall Street backing and the politicians enabling them. Fail State is executive produced by news legend Dan Rather.

Following the film, join us for a special Q&A.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

F. King Alexander

Louisiana State University

Ernest Ezeugo

New America

Martha Kanter

College Promise Campaign