Earning a degree is a personally fulfilling endeavor. So, after all those long nights and hard work, followed by the joy of graduation from such a university, you know what’s next: to pay back your federal financial aid student loans. Moreover, the main concerns of the majority of the University of Phoenix students are about one issue. Will the University of Phoenix Student Loan Forgiveness programs cover their student debts? By scrolling down in this article, you will get an idea of what is a possible way for students of closed schools with a federal student loan. Can they take advantage of the University of Phoenix Student Loan Forgiveness programs and what are the qualifications for that?
Nowadays, for the majority of students and graduates of the University of Phoenix, the common way to meet their education fees are student loans. When grants, scholarships are still not enough to cover your costs, federal student loans are an option to help you bridge the gap.
A little about the University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix came into existence in 1976 with just eight students in the first class. In several years, the school expanded to San Jose, California, and finally, in 1989, the university launched its online program. Before 2010, the University recruited students, and the classes were filling fast.
In 2013, “USA Today” included the University of Phoenix to the list of universities as a “red flag” institution for the default rate of a student loan as 26% that exceeded its graduation rate which is 17%. And the University of Phoenix saw a “Time” article titled “The 5 Colleges That Leave Most Students Crippled By Debt.”
In 2017, The University of Phoenix has been the defendant of committing deceitful activities, such as violating both State and Federal laws.
In certain situations, the government can forgive, cancel, or discharge your federal student loans. Among these circumstances are the closure of your university, as well. Was your school closed while you were studying or soon after you withdraw? Then you may be qualified for the discharge of your federal student loan.
Besides, it’s vital for you to get your academic and financial aid records if your school closes. If you are planning to go to another school or want your student loans discharged, you might need those records. There are specific qualifications to be eligible for a closed school discharge; you must apply to get a discharge. You are always able to contact your loan servicer for more information about making payments before they come due.
Learn more about the eligibility requirements for discharge and how you can apply.
Borrower’s Defense Discharge
If your school defrauded you, you might qualify for the Borrower’s Defense Discharge program, which means you can apply for the cancellation of your student loans and seek a refund for the amount you already paid to the government.
Almost 98.6% of the complaints listed were against for-profit colleges which deceived students or engaged in other misconduct. You can declare that the school broke state law correlated to the education services that related to the federal student loan itself. For you to be eligible for Borrower’s Defense Discharge, your school doesn’t need to face termination.
If you meet the eligibility requirements to receive the University of Phoenix student loan forgiveness for your debt, then your obligation is forgiven partially or entirely; also you may receive the amount you already paid on these loans.
Don’t forget that you are only qualified if the misconduct directly relates to the educational services for which you had got the loan. Eligibility for federal University of Phoenix student loan forgiveness refers only to the federal student loans you took out to pay the school related to your Borrower’s Defense Discharge application. You can receive a partial or entire discharge of your loan. In case of partial forgiveness, you will need to repay amounts that are not discharged by a program including any interest that piled up on the loans.
How to apply?
To apply for Borrower’s Defense to get University of Phoenix Student Loan Forgiveness, you should submit an application in one of the following ways: You can present a borrower defense to repayment claim application electronically at www.borrowerdischarge.ed.gov, or you can fill out a PDF, and sign and send it to the Department of Education through email or regular mail. Details of submission are available on the federal student aid website.
To back your claim, experts suggest presenting a detailed paper of why your loans might qualify. You would rather support it with evidence. It could involve confirmation of attendance, emails or correspondence with school executives, related promotional materials, etc.
Once you apply, you should demand that your loans be placed into forbearance or suspended collections status. It will stop payments and collections. The interest of your loans will accumulate while the Education Department assesses your application.
Closed School Discharge program
You might be qualified for a 100 % discharge of your William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program loans, in other words, Direct Loan, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL), or Federal Perkins Loans. If you were not able to achieve your program because your school closed, you might qualify.
Closed School Loan Forgiveness program can wipe out your students’ loans entirely if:
- you were enrolled when your school was closed;
- you were on an allowed leave of absence during the closure of your school;
- your school was shut down within 120 days after you withdrew.
But if the following statements are correct, you are not eligible for discharge of your loans:
- the school was shut down more than 120 days already;
- You are completing a similar program of study at a different school, by a teach-out,
you transfer academic credits or hours you have earned at the closed school to another school;
- Even if you had not received a diploma or certificate, you had completed all the coursework for the program.
Besides, ensure that you don’t stop making the payment on your loan while they handle your discharge application.
What is next?
If you meet the qualifications and have not enrolled at another school in three years after your school closed, you will automatically receive a closed school discharge.
The U.S. Department of Education will launch this discharge, and your loan servicer will notify you.
This closed school loan discharge is given automatically after your closed school has left behind three years. However, nothing stops you from applying for a closed school loan discharge as soon as the Department of Education establishes your school’s official closure date.
If you meet the eligibility qualifications for a University of Phoenix Student Loan Forgiveness, apply for a closed school discharge program now. You can do it instead of waiting for three years to get an automatically closed school discharge.
