
The Art Institute of America has faced significant financial struggles, leading to its closure in 2018. This has left many students with substantial debt.
For past and current students, debt forgiveness options are available. Some students may be eligible for a full discharge of their federal student loans.
The Art Institute of America's closure has also led to a wave of debt forgiveness claims. Many students have filed complaints with the Department of Education, citing misrepresentation and false promises made by the school.
In some cases, students may be eligible for a partial discharge of their federal student loans. This can be a complex process, requiring students to submit documentation and evidence to support their claims.
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Biden's Debt Forgiveness Plan
The Biden administration has proposed a rule to reduce the debts of millions of borrowers, with a total amount of student debt relief approved now coming to almost $160 billion for nearly 4.6 million borrowers.
This plan will likely face legal challenges, but it's a step in the right direction for borrowers who have been scammed by their colleges.
The administration is proposing a rule to reduce the debts of millions of borrowers, with a total amount of student debt relief approved now coming to almost $160 billion for nearly 4.6 million borrowers.
Biden has announced $1.2 billion in student debt forgiveness, which is a significant amount of relief for those who have been struggling under the weight of their loans.
The Education Department has the authority to cancel federal student loan debt for students who are defrauded by their college or trade school, and this plan takes advantage of that authority.
Hernandez, a former student of the Art Institute of San Francisco, has been struggling under the weight of over $70,000 in loans, but he recently received an email that his debt had been canceled.
The Biden administration has canceled student loan debt for people who attended the Art Institutes, and this is a huge relief for those who have been struggling under the weight of their loans.
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The total amount of debt canceled for these borrowers is $29 billion, which is a significant amount of relief for those who have been scammed by their colleges.
Biden's plan is not without its critics, who say it's not fair to taxpayers or to the students and families who made financial sacrifices to pay off their loans.
However, supporters of loan forgiveness say that insufficient disclosures by colleges, poorly designed loan programs, and inept servicing led many borrowers into debt traps.
For Hernandez, the debt forgiveness plan has been a game-changer, allowing him to feel free from the weight of his loans.
He's not alone, as many of his classmates have also received the same email and are now experiencing the same sense of relief.
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Who Benefits from the Sweet v Cardona Settlement?
If you applied for borrower defense claims before November 15, 2022, you'll fall into one of three categories.
You're in luck if you submitted your claims before this deadline, as the Sweet v Cardona lawsuit led to the cancellation of $6 billion in federal loans for nearly 200,000 former students, including many former Art Institute students.
You'll be eligible for debt forgiveness if you were one of the students who submitted borrower defense claims alleging your school defrauded you before the November 15, 2022 deadline.
The Sweet v Cardona settlement is a game-changer for those who were taken advantage of by their schools, and it's a relief to know that nearly 200,000 former students will have their loans cancelled.
If you're one of the 200,000 students who had their loans cancelled, you'll be receiving some welcome news in the form of debt forgiveness, thanks to the Sweet v Cardona lawsuit.
Borrower Defense to Repayment
To be eligible for borrower defense, you must have borrowed and hold Federal Student Loans, and your school must have broken state laws or committed fraud. You must also file within three years of leaving the school, depending on your state and when your loans were disbursed.
The Obama administration established the borrower defense program, which was put on hold under the Trump administration. However, the Biden administration reactivated the program, eliminating nearly $6 billion in loans for students who attended institutions like Corinthian Colleges.
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You can apply for borrower defense online or via email to [email protected]. Alternatively, you can mail a printed copy to the U.S. Department of Education. It's advisable to set aside 45 minutes for this process and keep a copy of the completed application.
The Education Department concluded that the Art Institutes engaged in widespread and pervasive substantial misrepresentations that deceived students. This entitled former Art Institute students to borrower defense relief.
Borrowers do not need to apply for borrower defense relief if they attended the Art Institutes. The relief will be automatic for this group, and borrowers can receive student loan forgiveness even if they did not submit a borrower defense application.
The total amount of student debt relief approved by the Biden administration now comes to almost $160 billion for nearly 4.6 million borrowers. This includes $29 billion in debt relief for 1.6 million borrowers whose colleges cheated them or closed abruptly.
Here are the details on the latest round of debt relief for borrowers who attended the Art Institutes:
Closed School Discharge
The Closed School Discharge program is a provision by the U.S. Department of Education that helps students who couldn't complete their education due to their school's closure.
Students who were attending the school or were on an approved leave of absence or withdrew shortly before the institution's closure may qualify for this program.
In 2019, the department expanded this program for students of 24 schools owned by Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH) that closed in 2018, including automatic loan cancellations for students from five specific DCEH-owned schools.
Students from these schools can also have their Federal Pell Grants eligibility restored.
The original eligibility period for the closed-school discharge program was within 120 days of the school's closure, but the department made special allowances for DCEH-owned schools, extending this eligibility period to June 29, 2018.
For certain institutions, the eligibility period was even extended to January 20, 2018.
To apply for closed school discharge, students should contact their federal loan servicer or visit the Federal Student Aid website at StudentAid.gov/closedschool.
Completed discharge applications must be returned to the loan servicer for processing.
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Loan Relief Options
If you attended the Art Institute and are struggling with debt, you're not alone. The Art Institute was accused of widespread misconduct, including misleading marketing strategies and false statements about the value of their education.
The Education Department has concluded that the Art Institutes engaged in "widespread and pervasive substantial misrepresentations that deceived students", making them eligible for Borrower Defense relief.
To qualify for Borrower Defense relief, borrowers must have enrolled at an Art Institute campus between January 1, 2004, and October 16, 2017. This means that if you attended the Art Institute during this time period, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness.
The Education Department has approved a group discharge of at least 317,000 borrowers, leading to approximately $6.1 billion in loan forgiveness. This is a significant step towards providing relief to those who were deceived by the Art Institute.
If you're unsure about whether you're eligible for Borrower Defense relief, it's a good idea to review the specific terms of your loan and explore the options available to you. You can also consult with a financial advisor to determine the best course of action.
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Here are some additional loan relief options that may be available to you:
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): This program forgives the remaining balance of Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
- Income-Driven Repayment Plan: This plan caps your monthly payments based on your income and family size, and may forgive any remaining balance after 20-25 years of payments.
- Negotiating settlements: This method involves agreeing with your lender on a lower payoff amount, but may not be available for all borrowers.
- Filing for bankruptcy: This is a last resort and can be challenging, but may be an option for some borrowers.
It's worth noting that each of these options has its own eligibility requirements and potential impacts on your credit score and taxes. Thorough research or consultation with a financial advisor is advised to understand which avenue best fits your circumstances.
Managing Loans
If you're struggling with debt from the Art Institute, don't worry, there are options available to you. The Borrower Defense program may qualify you for loan forgiveness if the Art Institute engaged in misconduct that harmed you.
You can also explore other options for student loan debt relief, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which forgives the remaining balance of Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
Income-Driven Repayment Plan can cap your monthly payments based on your income and family size, and after 20-25 years of payments, any remaining balance is forgiven. This is referred to as IDR loan forgiveness.
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If you have private loans, you can try negotiating settlements with your lender, although this may not be possible with every lender. Filing for bankruptcy is also an option, but it's a last resort and requires proving "undue hardship" in a separate legal process.
Here are some key details to keep in mind:
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness requires 120 qualifying payments
- Income-Driven Repayment Plan forgives remaining balance after 20-25 years
- Negotiating settlements is primarily applicable to private loans
- Filing for bankruptcy requires proving "undue hardship"
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the allegations against the Art Institute?
The Art Institute and its parent company are accused of making false claims about post-graduation job prospects and career services to prospective students. Investigation revealed widespread and significant misrepresentations.
Do I have to submit an application for loan forgiveness?
Yes, after 120 qualifying payments, you must submit a form to receive Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) loan forgiveness. This is a required step to finalize your loan forgiveness.
Is the student loan forgiveness application still open?
Yes, the student loan forgiveness application is still open, with new programs offering billions in forgiveness to eligible borrowers. Check for the latest details on available programs and application deadlines.
Sources
- https://petapixel.com/2024/05/03/biden-administration-forgives-6-1b-in-loans-to-former-art-institute-students/
- https://www.tateesq.com/learn/art-institute-loan-forgiveness
- https://debtcollective.org/forms/an-argument-for-loan-cancelation-for-the-art-institute/
- https://www.studentloanplanner.com/art-institutes-student-loan-forgiveness/
- https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-03/student-loan-debt-canceled-for-enrollees-at-art-institutes
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