A for-profit computer training school based in Hunt Valley abruptly shut its doors late last month, sending about 100 students in Maryland and hundreds more in other states scrambling for tuition refunds and other educational alternatives.

ComputerTraining.edu shuttered its headquarters and two teaching centers in Maryland, as well as offices in 13 other states, after its main lender, BB&T;, froze its line of credit and bank accounts and seized assets, the company said in a statement posted on its Web site. The company notice advised students to contact the education departments in their respective states for possible refunds or placement in other computer training programs to complete their education.

The shutdown shocked the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the state's Better Business Bureau. Representatives of both agencies indicated that ComputerTraining had not been the target of significant consumer complaints.

But the reasons behind the school's financial troubles remain unclear.

"Everybody was taken aback by the suddenness of this," said Leslie Bennett, associate director for career education at MHEC.

For-profit career schools in Maryland, such as ComputerTraining.edu, are required to place money in a pool that can be used to refund tuition if a school closes, Bennett said. The funds also can be used to assist students in enrolling in another school.

At the moment, Bennett said, the state is trying to help current students find an alternate computer training program.

The Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland said in a statement that ComputerTraining had maintained a satisfactory report with the agency.

"We are stunned by the loss of this business to our community," said Angie Barnett, the BBB's president and CEO. "Until this sudden turn of events, ComputerTraining.edu has had a history of providing good customer service and worked with BBB to resolve any consumer complaints."

ComputerTraining has been in business for 17 years and claims on its Web site to have graduated thousands of students from its centers. The company said it was instructed by BB&T; to "lock down all locations and not allow employees to collect personal belongings.

"This request stunned the ComputerTraining.edu management team, who refused to comply," the online statement continued. "All employees were allowed access, and terminations were made face to face."

Reached by telephone, ComputerTraining's president, Charles A. Lang Jr., declined to comment.

Cynthia Williams, a BB&T; spokeswoman, said the bank has had a long relationship with ComputerTraining and was "surprised and disappointed" the company was placing all the blame on them. "We have been working with them for months to help them with their financial situation and obviously weren't successful," Williams said.

Williams said the company owed the bank "millions," but she declined to release an exact amount. She said one possible cause of the company's financial troubles could have been a reduction in funding for students seeking financial assistance from Sallie Mae, a student loan company.

Earlier in December, Williams said, ComputerTraining defaulted on its loans, but the bank didn't make the decision for them to close, she said.

"They made that decision. ... They told us they didn't have the ability to meet day-to day obligations," Williams said. "We have a number of loans to them, and we asked for repayment of our loans. They closed the school in response."