Borrower Defense to Repayment 

If you went to a for-profit college and were misled—about job placements, accreditation, costs, or anything that turned out to be false—you may be able to get your federal student loans wiped out completely through something called Borrower Defense to Repayment. This is a legal way to cancel your debt if your school lied or broke the law. It covers federal loans and can even refund past payments or stop collections.

But you need to act now. The rules can change fast, and if you wait, you could miss out. Submitting your Borrower Defense application puts you in line for relief and can pause things like interest, collections, and wage garnishment. Even if your school closed years ago or you’re not sure if you qualify, it’s better to get your application in now than to wait and risk losing your chance.

Many bad actor schools have Facebook or Reddit groups dedicated to Borrower Defense if you need assistance or help locating evidence.

Where to apply: studentaid.gov/borrower-defense

New York Legal Assistance Group: FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN BDTR APPLICATION GUIDE

Project on Predatory Student Lending

PPSL’s primary goal is to combat fraudulent practices in higher education and to seek justice for students burdened by illegitimate debt. The organization employs strategic litigation to challenge deceptive practices by for-profit institutions and to hold them accountable for misconduct.

Sweet v. McMahon (formerly Sweet v. Cardona/DeVos) is a landmark class-action lawsuit brought by the Project on Predatory Student Lending (PPSL) on behalf of over 200,000 student loan borrowers who were misled or defrauded by for-profit colleges. It became one of the most important student debt relief cases in U.S. history.

Luciano v. Navient (2025) In February 2025, PPSL filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in Illinois on behalf of borrowers who applied for loan cancellation through Navient’s “School Misconduct Discharge Application.” The lawsuit alleges that Navient issued blanket denials of these applications despite evidence of school misconduct and fraud. This case marks a significant step in holding private lenders accountable for their role in perpetuating student debt tied to predatory institutions.

PPSL continues to monitor and challenge practices by private lenders that harm borrowers. Their efforts aim to ensure that all students, regardless of the type of loan they hold, have access to fair treatment and relief from fraudulent debt.

Private Loan Misconduct application: 

Website: predatorystudentlending.org and standup4borrowerdefense.com/

Private student loans: ppsl.org/privateloans-issue

If you are FULL class and have not received full settlement or either class and put back into repayment. Please send emails to: sweet@ed.gov right away, with a copy to info@ppsl.org.

If you are Post Class and receive a denial please email info@ppsl.org  with the subject line ‘POST CLASS DENIAL’

The Debt Collective

The Debt Collective is a membership-based union of debtors that organizes collective action to cancel debts and challenge the systems that create them. Emerging from the Occupy Wall Street movement, the Debt Collective empowers individuals burdened by various forms of debt—including student loans, medical bills, and housing costs—to unite and advocate for systemic change. Their mission is to transform individual financial struggles into collective political power, aiming to build a world where essential services like education and healthcare are publicly funded and accessible to all. 

For borrowers from for-profit colleges, the Debt Collective has been instrumental in exposing predatory practices and advocating for debt cancellation. They have organized debt strikes, supported legal actions, and developed tools to assist borrowers in navigating the complex process of seeking loan forgiveness. Notably, their efforts contributed to the cancellation of nearly $6 billion in student loan debt for former students of Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit institution accused of widespread fraud. Through initiatives like the “Borrower Offense” campaign, the Debt Collective continues to fight for the rights of students deceived by for-profit colleges, emphasizing the need for comprehensive debt relief and accountability within the higher education system.’

Website: debtcollective.org

Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) 

The Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) is a nonprofit advocacy organization that fights for the rights of student loan borrowers, especially those harmed by predatory practices in higher education and lending. Founded by former government officials and policy experts, SBPC works through research, legal advocacy, and public campaigns to expose systemic abuses in the student loan system. Their mission is to protect borrowers from exploitation by schools, lenders, and loan servicers, and to push for strong federal and state policies that hold these institutions accountable.

For borrowers from for-profit colleges, SBPC has been a leading force in demanding justice and debt relief. They’ve uncovered deceptive recruiting tactics, uncovered how loan servicers trap students in debt, and advocated for stronger enforcement of borrower protection laws like Borrower Defense to Repayment. SBPC also collaborates with state attorneys general, journalists, and grassroots groups to spotlight the harms for-profit schools have caused—particularly for veterans, low-income students, and students of color. Whether it’s pushing the Department of Education for reforms or supporting legal challenges to abusive schools, SBPC ensures that the voices of defrauded borrowers are heard and that relief is delivered.

Website: protectborrowers.org

State-Based Student Loan Ombudsman Offices: protectborrowers.org/state-based-student-loan-ombudsmen

Congressional Casework Tool: protectborrowers.org/protect-borrowers-congressional-casework-tool

National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) 

The National Consumer Law Center  is a nonprofit organization that advocates for economic justice for low-income and vulnerable individuals, including student loan borrowers harmed by predatory for-profit colleges. Through its Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project, NCLC provides comprehensive resources to help borrowers understand their rights and options. This includes guidance on managing both federal and private student loans, addressing issues like default, debt collection, loan forgiveness, and bankruptcy. For-profit borrowers can access tools to assess their loan situations, learn about relief programs such as Borrower Defense to Repayment, and find legal assistance through NCLC’s extensive network. Student Loan Borrowers Assistance

NCLC also plays a pivotal role in policy advocacy, working to increase accountability for predatory educational institutions and to ensure that affected students can access loan relief. By offering resources like the Student Loan Toolkit and maintaining a digital library of legal materials, NCLC equips both borrowers and advocates with the necessary tools to challenge unfair practices and seek justice. For-profit borrowers can leverage these resources to navigate the complexities of student loan repayment and to advocate for systemic changes that protect future students from similar exploitation.

STUDENT LOAN TOOLKIT A GUIDE FOR ADVOCATES AND BORROWERS

PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS GUIDE

Legal Aid beyond the organizations

You may need to hire a lawyer to protect yourself from aggressive debt collection, navigate complex loan forgiveness processes, or pursue justice against a school that engaged in fraud or deceptive practices.

In some cases, a lawyer is essential for stopping wage garnishment, tax refund seizures, or lawsuits over unpaid student loans—especially when a borrower is facing a debt collector or lender in court. An attorney can also help borrowers file formal complaints with state or federal agencies, join class-action lawsuits, or negotiate settlements. For many borrowers who feel overwhelmed, intimidated, or unsure of their rights, hiring a lawyer can provide clarity, protection, and a real chance at getting out from under predatory debt.

The National Association of Consumer Advocates connects borrowers with attorneys who specialize in consumer protection and student loan issues—including fraud by for-profit colleges. Many listed attorneys offer free consultations or work on a sliding scale. 

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) site helps borrowers find local legal aid offices that provide free legal assistance to low-income individuals. These organizations can help borrowers file complaints, apply for loan forgiveness, fight debt collection, or even join lawsuits against predatory schools or loan servicers. Getting legal help can make a huge difference in protecting your rights and unlocking relief.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Complaint Portal

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Complaint Portal is an official online platform where consumers—including student loan borrowers—can report fraud, scams, and deceptive business practices directly to the federal government. For-profit college students can use this tool to file a complaint if they believe they were misled by their school about things like job placement rates, accreditation, financial aid, program costs, or transferability of credits.

Using the FTC Complaint Portal will create a public record of misconduct. These complaints are not just logged—they are reviewed and shared with other enforcement agencies, including the Department of Education, state attorneys general, and even the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The more complaints a school receives, the more likely it is that the government will investigate or take enforcement action. Including your school’s name, dates of attendance, and details of how you were misled strengthens your case and helps build pressure for systemic accountability or even class-wide debt relief.

File your complaint at: reportfraud.ftc.gov

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (CFPB)  

A for-profit borrower should file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) because it’s one of the most effective ways to report abusive loan servicing, deceptive lending, or school-based financial misconduct—especially when it involves student loans. The CFPB is a federal agency that oversees financial institutions and has taken major action against for-profit colleges and lenders for misleading borrowers or pushing them into unaffordable debt. By filing a complaint, you create an official record that can trigger investigations, lead to enforcement actions, and help shape future policy changes.

With the cuts is it still worth it? It is still very much worth it. Even though some people assume nothing happens, the CFPB often follows up on complaints and has helped return millions in relief to borrowers. Plus, when complaints pile up against a specific school or lender, it increases pressure on both the Department of Education and state attorneys general to act. It only takes about 10–15 minutes to file at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, and it could make a real difference—not just for your case, but for other borrowers in the same situation.

FILE A COMPLAINT: consumerfinance.gov/complaint

State Attorneys General

You should file a complaint with your state attorney general (AG) because AGs have the authority to investigate and take legal action against schools that engage in deceptive or illegal practices. Many of the largest investigations and lawsuits against predatory for-profit colleges—like Corinthian Colleges, ITT Tech, and Art Institute—began because former students reported fraud to their state AGs. Filing a complaint helps create a record of harm and can contribute to state-level enforcement, lawsuits, and even debt cancellation efforts. In some cases, AGs have secured direct loan forgiveness for borrowers in their state or worked with the federal government to trigger broader relief.

To file a complaint, youcan go to your state attorney general’s website and look for the consumer complaint or fraud report form—almost every AG has an online submission portal. The complaint should include the name of the school, the years attended, specific ways the borrower was misled or harmed, and any documents that support the claim (like brochures, emails, or financial aid documents). Filing is usually free and takes only 10–15 minutes, but it can be an essential step toward justice and debt relief. If you’re unsure how to start, I can help you find your AG’s site or draft a sample complaint.

FIND MY AG: naag.org/find-my-ag

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – GI Bill Feedback Tool

If you’re a veteran or used VA education benefits like the GI Bill to attend a for-profit college, you can use the GI Bill Feedback Tool from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to report any problems you had with your school. I used this tool at benefits.va.gov/gibill/feedback.asp to file a complaint when I realized my school misled me about job placement rates and accreditation. It was quick to fill out and gave me a way to make sure the VA knew what was happening. Submitting a report doesn’t affect your benefits, but it can trigger an investigation, and if enough of us speak up, it could help stop other vets from getting scammed. Plus, it creates a record that other agencies—like the Department of Education or even Congress—can use to take action.

Fail State Documentary 

Executive produced by news legend Dan Rather, FAIL STATE investigates the dark side of American higher education, chronicling the decades of policy decisions in Washington, D.C. that have given rise to a powerful and highly-predatory for-profit college industry. With echoes of the subprime mortgage crisis, the film lays bare how for-profit colleges exploit millions of low-income and minority students, leaving them with worthless degrees and drowning in student loan debt. Director Alexander Shebanow traces the rise, fall, and resurgence of the for-profit college industry, revealing its Wall Street backing and the lawmakers enabling widespread fraud and abuse in American higher education.

failstatemovie.com

Burdened- Student Debt and the Making of an American Crisis

Book By Ryann Liebenthal

College costs more today than ever and is worth less. Tuition at public colleges has more than tripled in the past 50 years. Over the same period student debt has grown from virtually nothing to more than $1.7 trillion, second only to home mortgages.

Skyrocketing student-loan burdens are leading an entire generation to put off the traditional milestones of adulthood: buying homes, getting married, starting families, and saving for retirement. The burden weighs heavier on women and black Americans, and with almost 10 percent of student debtors now over the age of 60, it is a crisis no longer limited to the young.

Ryann Liebenthal’s Burdened tells the maddening story of how the power plays of legislators and presidents, the commodification of higher ed, and the rapacious practices of for-profit colleges and private lenders have created today’s student-debt lava pit.

As the notion of student-loan cancellation percolates into the political mainstream, Liebenthal offers a deeply researched, sweeping narrative of our broken system. Rather than give in to despair, she boldly charts a way out, offering hopeful solutions to this seemingly unfixable problem.

harpercollins.com/burdened

You Are Not a Loan

Documentary by: Astra Taylor 

Right before Covid-19 disrupted our lives, I assembled a group of activists and academics to discuss the crisis of higher education and what was next for the growing movement to cancel student debt and make college and university tuition free. The 45-minute film “You Are Not a Loan” is a record of this encounter, which took place on February 7, 2020.

After nearly a decade of grassroots organizing, the Debt Collective, a union for debtors that I helped found, succeeded in making student debt a central issue in the Democratic presidential primary. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren campaigned aggressively on canceling various amounts of student debt while expressing varying commitments to higher education as a right.

Our movement had entered a pivotal moment that seemed worth documenting. We needed to figure out how to advance and expand our agenda. Of course, we had no idea what was just around the corner. In many ways, “You Are Not a Loan” is more resonant now than when we shot it. The pandemic dealt this country’s fragile higher education system a potentially existential blow, making the issues and solutions raised in the film more urgent and mainstream. Meanwhile, the call to cancel debts — student loans and also medical debt, past-due mortgages, and back rent — can now be heard emanating from struggling communities and echoed by progressive representatives in Congress. Even President Joe Biden has embraced the necessity of student debt cancellation. Though his proposal is inadequate — he has promised $10,000 of “immediate” relief along with more substantial cancellation for students who attended certain schools and meet certain income thresholds — it is a notable development for a former senator of Delaware, the credit card capital of the world, and a man who played a key role in pushing legislation that rolled back bankruptcy protections for student borrowers.

The idea for this project emerged out of conversations with Paul Holdengräber and his team at Onassis Los Angeles, a newly opened center for dialogue around social change and justice. With their support, I was able to convene a group that included Debt Collective organizers, student debtors, and esteemed scholars, including political theorist Wendy Brown, historian Barbara Ransby, economist Stephanie Kelton, and others. The dialogue that ensued is personal and philosophical, historically grounded and engagingly hypothetical. The film offers an intimate view of the ongoing and growing grassroots struggle to transform our broken, profit-driven education system and also reveals some of the challenges facing the effort. There are insightful and humorous moments as participants attempt to speak and strategize across cultural and class divides.

youtube.com/theintercept

Tell your story – Speaking your truth will set you free

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SHARE YOUR STORY?

Our own stories and experiences shed light on the importance of various programs, the harms of cutting funding, the impacts of various pieces of legislation to our own lives and the lives of our communities.

Building a mission around student debt—whether it’s to advocate for policy change, raise awareness, or build a community of support—depends heavily on the power of personal stories. Here’s why it’s crucial for debtors to share their experiences:

1. Humanizes the Issue

Student debt can seem like just numbers and statistics, but real stories show the human impact—stress, delayed life milestones, limited career choices, and mental health struggles. This emotional connection makes the issue relatable and urgent.

2. Builds Collective Power

When people share their experiences, it creates a sense of solidarity. It shows borrowers they’re not alone, and that this is a systemic problem, not a personal failure. That unity is powerful for organizing and pushing for change.

3. Challenges Stigma

Many borrowers feel shame or guilt about their debt. Sharing stories helps break down that stigma and shifts the narrative from “you made bad choices” to “the system is broken.”

4. Influences Policy Makers

Policymakers respond to stories that connect with their constituents. A thousand-dollar statistic doesn’t hit as hard as a single mother working two jobs just to cover loan interest.

5. Drives Media Attention

Journalists and media outlets are more likely to cover a movement when there are compelling, diverse personal stories. It brings color, emotion, and urgency to headlines.

6. Educates the Public

A lot of people don’t fully understand how predatory or burdensome student loans can be—especially if they haven’t experienced it. Hearing firsthand accounts builds empathy and informs the public debate.

HOW CAN YOU SHARE YOUR STORY?

• In writing through an OpEd or Letter to the Editor
• On Social Media either through a video, text, post, short video
• Public speaking at an event or rally

OP-ED / LETTER TO THE EDITOR

An op-ed (short for “opposite the editorial page”) is a short opinion article written by someone outside of a newspaper’s editorial staff—like a student loan borrower, advocate, or expert—who wants to publicly share their viewpoint on a current issue. Op-eds are published in newspapers or online media and usually make a clear argument, backed by personal experience or facts, to persuade the public or decision-makers. For example, a for-profit borrower might write an op-ed to expose how their school misled them and call on lawmakers to support debt relief.

A letter to the editor is usually shorter (about 150–250 words) and written in response to a recent article or news event. It’s a quick way to add your voice to a public conversation and can be a powerful tool to highlight student debt issues or demand accountability for predatory schools. Both formats help bring attention to your story, influence public opinion, and show elected officials that people in their communities care about these issues.

Here’s a helpful OpEd handout: Op-Ed Handout

Op-Ed Sample pieces

• • Sample Piece by Sarah Bundy
  • OpEd & Essay List
  • Gail Gardner’s Guardian Piece
  • Eleni’s New Yorker Article

SOCIAL MEDIA

For-profit borrower organizers can use social media as a powerful, low-cost tool to spread awareness, build community, and drive action. Platforms like Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn allow you to share personal stories, expose predatory practices by schools, and highlight important updates on loan forgiveness, legal action, or borrower defense deadlines. Sharing your experience puts a human face on the crisis—and when many borrowers do this together using common hashtags (like #CancelStudentDebt or #ForProfitFraud, #borroweroffense), it builds momentum and gets the attention of media, advocates, and policymakers.

Organizers can also use social media to host live Q&As, collaborate with advocacy groups like the Debt Collective or SBPC, and mobilize people to file complaints, attend events, or sign petitions.

Posting short videos, infographics, and personal testimonials can help break down complex topics (like borrower defense or state AG complaints) into accessible, shareable content. The more visible your mission is, the more likely it is to attract support, partnerships, and pressure on the institutions that caused the harm. Would you like sample posts or hashtags to start with?

Maddy from the Debt Collective has put out some amazing guides to get you started. 

• • Short-Form Video Toolkit(Updated).pdf
  • Shame to Solidarity1 – Handout.pdf

SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US!!! 

Sharing your story helps us grow our network of borrowers and strengthens our ability to advocate for change. We use these stories to inform legislators and partner organizations, and to better understand the scale of harm caused by the predatory for-profit college industry. If there’s a campaign or state-level legislation, your input also helps us connect with the right people in the right places. Please know that only two trusted team members have access to this form, and your information will never be shared outside the scope of our mission.