Miscalculated Credits Delayed My Degree

Location: Chicago

I started at community college in then transferred to a state university on sports scholarship. In 2010 I was injured and lost my scholarship. They allowed me to do graduation ceremonies because I was only a few credits hours short, specific courses.

Life happened and I got married, had a child, went to work, got divorced and eventually finished my degree Dec 2025. I took out student loans and it was difficult to do school and work as a single parent but I am happy it’s done.

A final audit showed something unexpected - I had more than enough credits because they had been miscalculated from when I transferred. The classes they said I needed to graduate, should have transferred over from community college according to their guidelines. I pulled up my old transcripts and catalogs and highlighted it to show the registrar. A different administration is in place now.

I had enough credits to graduate in 2010!!! And all these years since I have looked past and been passed over for jobs for lack of a degree, and taken out loans with interest to take additional classes I didn’t need.

I feel so angry and lost. What if anything can I do? Do I have any legal recourse?