This paper highlights the achievements of Vittana, a U.S.-based product development non-profit and capital provider, since its inception in 2008. It discusses Vittana and its partner MFIs’ efforts to demonstrate that student loans are viable.

MFIs provide financial services to millions of poor and low-income families. They are well positioned to reach youth who lack resources to complete higher education. But MFIs have done little to tap into this market, discouraged by common misunderstandings about student lending. The paper lists five myths of student lending that Vittana has debunked by creating and funding high-performing student loan products at 19 MFIs in 12 countries.