Many Full Sail students who are struggling with student loan debt went to the university between 2004 and 2018, with a significant number enrolling around the Great Recession in 2008. These students come from various programs, including game design, audio engineering, and entertainment business.
No matter the program they were pursuing, many shared a common feeling after leaving school: frustration and fear of not knowing how to get student loan forgiveness for their debt from Full Sail University.
But there is hope.
Various student loan forgiveness programs, such as Navient’s private student loan forgiveness and Borrower Defense to Repayment, are available to help eligible borrowers find relief from their debt.
This article will provide a comprehensive guide to the options available specifically for Full Sail students and an overview of other federal programs that may relate to their situation.
What it is: Borrower Defense to Repayment is a federal program that lets borrowers seek loan forgiveness if their school engaged in misconduct or misrepresentation. This program applies to federal Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, and Federal Perkins Loans.
How it works: Full Sail students who believe they were misled or subjected to misconduct by the school may be eligible for BDR. Examples might include:
Who qualifies: To be eligible for BDR, you must have federal Direct Loans, FFEL Program loans, or Federal Perkins Loans and be able to show your school engaged in misconduct or misrepresentation. The misconduct must have violated state or federal law and relate to your loans or educational services.
How to apply: To apply for BDR, you must complete an application online through the Federal Student Aid website or by mail. In your application, provide detailed information about your school’s misconduct and how it influenced your decision to attend or borrow loans. You must also submit any supporting evidence, such as promotional materials, enrollment agreements, or emails from school officials.
Current status and legal challenges: While the BDR program has been in place for several years, it has faced legal challenges and changes.
In 2023, the Biden administration proposed new regulations to make it easier for borrowers to receive loan forgiveness through BDR. However, a group of for-profit schools challenged these regulations in court. Judges from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals entered an injunction that put their implementation on hold.
Despite the legal challenges, the BDR program remains active, and borrowers can still apply for loan forgiveness. The U.S. Department of Education will continue to process applications under the existing regulations while the legal challenges are resolved.
What it is: Navient offers a private student loan forgiveness program specifically for borrowers misled by their schools. This program is separate from federal loan forgiveness options and only applies to private student loans serviced by Navient.
How it works: If you have private student loans with Navient and believe your school engaged in misconduct or misrepresentation, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness. Examples of school misconduct include false promises about job placement rates, earning potential, or the transferability of credits.
Who qualifies: To be eligible for Navient’s private student loan forgiveness program, you must have private student loans serviced by Navient and be able to show that your school engaged in misconduct or misrepresentation. Eligibility is not based on your income, employment status, or length of repayment.
This program only applies to Navient private student loans. You will not be eligible for this program if you have private loans with other lenders. However, you may have other options for seeking relief, such as the holder-in-due-course rule, a 1975 Federal Trade Commission regulation that lets borrowers contest their debt if the goods or services bought were fraudulent.
How to apply: To apply for Navient’s private student loan forgiveness, you must contact Navient directly and ask for an application. You can call their customer service line or email their designated address for loan forgiveness inquiries.
Review our article on the Navient School Misconduct Discharge Program for more details.
Deadline: Navient’s private student loan forgiveness program is ongoing, and there is no specific deadline to apply. But act promptly if you believe you qualify. The process may take some time, and you’ll want to make sure you’re able to provide documentation to support your case.
In addition to Navient’s private loan forgiveness and Borrower Defense to Repayment, Full Sail students may also benefit from other federal student loan forgiveness programs, such as:
IDR Account Adjustment: In April 2022, the Education Department announced a one-time account adjustment opportunity for borrowers to receive credit toward loan forgiveness for time spent in repayment, deferment, or forbearance. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2024.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness: The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans for borrowers who work full-time for government organizations or non-profit organizations and meet certain other requirements.
SAVE Plan: A new income-driven repayment plan that offers lower monthly payments and faster loan forgiveness than other plans. It replaces the REPAYE Plan and is available to most borrowers with federal Direct Loans. Related: How the SAVE Plan Works
Parent PLUS Loan Forgiveness: Parents who borrowed Parent PLUS Loans for their child’s education at Full Sail University may be eligible for loan forgiveness through various programs, such as Borrower Defense to Repayment, PSLF, and Income-Contingent Repayment Plan forgiveness. They may also be able to take advantage of the “double consolidation” loophole to qualify for the SAVE Plan. Related: Parent PLUS Loan Forgiveness
