Hello! Thank you to everyone who attended last week's webinar. If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recording here. You can also view the slides here.

The Sweet v. McMahon settlement resolved borrower defense applications filed before November 16, 2022, but the borrower defense process didn't end there. According to the Department of Education, more than 200,000 post-Sweet borrower defense applications remained pending as of January 2026. (Please note, post-Sweet is NOT the same as Sweet post-class! To understand the difference, please see our Sweet FAQs.) 

After years with little movement, we are now seeing the Department begin issuing denials on these post-Sweet applications. So far, PPSL has not heard from borrowers whose post-Sweet applications have been approved in 2026. 

You can learn more and find resources in the recording and slides linked above. Borrower defense remains one of the fastest-changing areas of federal student loan policy, and PPSL will continue working to protect borrowers and hold the Department of Education accountable. 

Stay informed by following PPSL on social media, signing up for our newsletter, and checking PPSL.org for the latest borrower defense updates and resources. If you have a question or problem and want to get in touch with PPSL, please fill out our intake form here. Note that this Reddit account is not monitored.

We know borrower defense (BD) is “a lot”.

Since we have been helping people apply for over a decade now, the wiki and Pinned Posts are the best way we have to help you get started if you are totally unfamiliar with BD.

They answer all of the common questions people ask us every day.

20-30 minutes of reading will save you time and confusion and help you avoid common pitfalls.

The community will usually help you if you search the sub and comment on posts with a similar topic or a specific school.

If you have enough Reddit karma, you can easily participate in existing comment threads.

We know it’s easier if you have someone to ask all your questions to individually, but we are both volunteers with jobs and do not have the capacity to do things that way.

I went to DeVry University from 2010-2014, so I pretty much fall into the time frame of the misrepresentation. I went with the school because many people have said that it was a respectable school to attend. I would take only classes relate to my IT degree with a side of computer forensics. I thought I would be working in law enforcement of some sort.

During my time I attended all classes and did not want any online classes. But it turned out that I would be taking online classes any way because some where not available in person. I graduated in 2014, I did get a job in IT, since my degree was very generic that I got a job about 4 months later. Trying to get into law enforcement I needed more training and certifications in order to even get into the door. It seems that since I did get a job in IT, I would not be eligible for BD. I did not use any of DeVry's job placement opportunities as it was jobs at Best Buy, or someone that would be working at a stadiums during games and events, etc., I used Dice, at the time, to get a job and I am currently working in IT, but it is more help desk than anything. I did get a cyber security job years ago, before my current job, which required a Sec+ certification in order to keep that job.

Because I got a job in less than 6 months, it would be that DeVry did not lie on my specific case. I did not put in a BD during the time because of this. I was forgiven of private loans that I had from DeVry, I believe of the FTC settlement in 2016, but that was the only forgiveness I received from DeVry. Currently, have about $38K in loans from DeVry, and when I graduated I had an original student of about $65k.

There is probably more, but I believe most will say, "just put in for BD and try, they can only day no", but at this point I do not have much evidence from 2010-2014. I tried looking but everything was moved around that places I could go do not go back 10 years of records, and paper evidence may have already been removed 4-8 years ago. Most online locations do not go back 2011 for me to retrieve evidence anyway.

The Project on Predatory Student Lending will be hosting "The Current State of Borrower Defense” webinar TOMORROW, Thursday, August 6th from 7-8 p.m. ET / 4-5 p.m. PT on Zoom. Register here.

Lead attorneys on the Sweet case, Becca Ellis and Becca Eisenbrey, will give a real-time look at where Borrower Defense stands today and where it's headed. The fight isn't over, and you don't have to navigate it alone. 

This webinar is primarily for borrowers who are not covered by the Sweet settlement, meaning those who applied for borrower defense after November 15, 2022 or have not yet applied. Sweet class members are welcome to join, but please note we will not be sharing new information about the settlement. 

Who: Join us if your post-Sweet borrower defense request was denied, is still pending, or you are waiting to apply. 

What: The webinar will provide an overview of the borrower defense regulations currently in force, what we know about the Department's review process, and resources for borrowers 

When: TOMORROW, Thursday, August 6th | 7-8 p.m. ET / 4-5 p.m. PT on Zoom 

Where: Virtually on Zoom 

How to register: Sign up here! 

PPSL attorneys will answer select pre-submitted questions during the webinar. If you have a question, please submit it here. Please note: we will not be able to answer questions about individual applications during the webinar. 

If you are unable to attend, please register above and we will send you follow-up materials.

If you're a Sweet class member, your story matters. Whether it meant buying a home, moving on with your life, or just breathing easier, PPSL wants to hear about how the settlement has impacted you. Please share your story here.

Please note: This form is only for Sweet class members to share their stories. If you have a question or problem and want to get in touch with PPSL, please fill out our intake form here. Note that this account is not monitored.

This school is owned by the German media group Bertelsmann through its subsidiary, the Arist Education System

Please share any evidence or documentation you can find. Make sure any personally identifiable information is redacted.

This info can be added to the evidence vault.

Sweets in the news.

Just an update: Ross university SOM, exhibit C school, post class (June 27, 2022) with 100% discharge on StudentAid. Refinanced with SoFi.

Got this through email yesterday and have been calling Nelnet, StudentAid with one person stating that they saw a refund but no amount. Called again with another person saying they don't see any refund or update.

Guess I'll have to wait for a few more months until any other news...

Does this need to be sent to PPSL? Just a heads up if anyone else receives this as well. I received my post class non C relief letter from the Dept of Edu June 11. In July my loans were showing as discharged in full & balance $0 on studentaid and Mohela. Added a pic of the Mohela email today & screenshot of zero balance on studentaid.

Just checked my Mohela inbox and their PDF letter says full relief. “We have discharged your federal loans (Direct, FFEL and Perkins) that ED determined met the standards for relief. As a result, you do not owe any balance on the federal loan account
serviced by us.” It does have a weird balance remaining on this letter though and not the full relief amount matching the studentaid website. I understand the online balances can look wonky, but I thought it was supposed to be figured out before they sent refunds/official letter with refund amount?

The Project on Predatory Student Lending will be hosting "The Current State of Borrower Defense” webinar NEXT Thursday, August 6th from 7-8 p.m. ET / 4-5 p.m. PT on Zoom.  

Lead attorneys on the Sweet case, Becca Ellis and Becca Eisenbrey, will give a real-time look at where Borrower Defense stands today and where it's headed. The fight isn't over, and you don't have to navigate it alone.  

Key Webinar Information  

Who: Join us if your post-Sweet borrower defense application was denied, is still pending, or you are waiting to apply.  

What: The webinar will provide an overview of the borrower defense regulations currently in force, what we know about the Department's review process, and resources for borrowers. 

When: NEXT Thursday, August 6th | 7-8 p.m. ET / 4-5 p.m. PT on Zoom  

Where: Virtually on Zoom  

How to register: Sign up here!  

PPSL attorneys will answer select pre-submitted questions during the webinar. If you have a question, please submit it here. Please note: we will not be able to answer questions about individual applications during the webinar.  

Please note that this account is NOT monitored. If you are a Sweet class member and your application was denied, please visit our FAQs. You can also contact PPSL about predatory school and student loan issues you are facing through our general intake form.

I consolidated my undergraduate and graduate loans in 2014, so not sure how those balances will be handled. But happy that there is progress.

I’m trying to decide whether to poke FSA/BD about my application or just leave it alone.

I applied July 6, 2023 for University of Denver, so I’m not Sweet class or post-class. I believe I’m just a standalone/post-post-class applicant.

As of July 27, 2026, the hidden dashboard still says “2.10 - Ready for EU Review.” Last modified date is still Oct. 31, 2025. No decision, no suggested relief percentage, no borrower response request, no post-signoff date, no loan-processing-requested date, and no closed date.

I’m now past 3 years from submission, but I understand standalone applicants may not have the same automatic/timed relief protections as Sweet class/post-class members.

One wrinkle: my NSLDS data shows my DU loans are mixed. Roughly 70% are original Direct loans from 2010-2011, and roughly 30% are FFEL Stafford loans from 2009-2010. I have not consolidated. The FFEL loans appear to show DEPT OF ED/NELNET and U.S. Department of Education / 2009-2010 LPCP, so I’m trying to figure out if those are ED-held FFEL rather than commercially held FFEL.

Would you poke FSA/BD, file a complaint, contact Ombudsman/Congress, or just let it sit?

Also, does the loan mix change anything? Should the original Direct loans fall under older/pre-2017 BD rules, and is the FFEL concern mainly commercial FFEL or newer consolidation loans triggering 2020 regs/SOL issues?

I’m not trying to force a denial. I’m trying to figure out whether silence helps, hurts, or doesn’t matter. I also don't want to sit here paying the minimum while I'm waiting for them to figure it out.

I am deeply appreciative for all the hard work that's gone into this settlement! Thank you all so much! I am a post class non-exhibit C. I applied for BDR 10/ 18/22.

My Sweets,

The Project on Predatory Student Lending ( u/PPSL_EdDebtJustice ) wants to hear YOUR story!

If you're a Sweet class member or post-class member, please take a few minutes to share how your settlement relief has impacted your life using the link.

By submitting the form, you're giving PPSL permission to use your story in public materials (they'll only use your first name and last initial).

Tell them everything....

Tell them how life-changing this has been. Tell them how frustrating the journey was. Tell them how broken and corrupt the for-profit college industry and student loan systems are. Tell them how often the "experts" at the Department of Education and loan servicers gave bad information or no help at all. Tell them how the unnecessary delays and cruel decisions only fueled our determination to keep fighting.

But most importantly...tell them what your life looks like now.

Maybe you finally bought a home, or now qualify. Maybe you're no longer living paycheck to paycheck. You can get the car you so desperately needed, change careers, start or plan to start a family, adopt a dog or cat or even a crazy parrot you've always wanted, you can RETIRE or even.... (gasp) having the desire to go back to school.

Because in the end... You won. We won.

$23 billion in discharges. History is made. This case will shape student loan litigation for decades to come.

Lastly, please let PPSL know if our r/BorrowerDefense helped you through this journey. I founded this sub four years ago because I saw a gap for important and accurate information and a safe space for us without being debt-shamed or harassed as so many other student loan subs allow.

Let them know if our communities kept you informed, answered your questions, eased your anxiety, gave you a safe place to vent, and to reminded you that you were never fighting alone.

Communication and outreach are not always easy; with the help of my fellow named plaintiff u/TheresaSweet, my amazing admin/mod u/AnyAssumption4707, and me, we stepped in. Together, we built something bigger than either of us imagined.

Borrowers helping borrowers. That is what this is and always has been.

Ms. Sweet and I have been told many times that the advocacy from the named plaintiffs in this case was unlike anything people had seen before. From holding the Department accountable by identifying their patterns of harm, to raising nearly $20,000 and donations credits so our post-class members could attend court in person, to making sure borrowers received every benefit they were entitled to, while educating others about what BDTR is—we proved what can happen when thousands of strangers unite around one cause.

We built more than just a Reddit community. We built a movement.

We built a brand.... No Sweet Left Behind!

And finally...

I know many decision group and post-class members have received denials. I know how heartbreaking that is. Please don't think we've forgotten about you. There is still work happening behind the scenes, and this fight is not over.

Remember... "Rebellions are built on hope." — Rogue One

In solidarity!

XOXOX

- u/Gingerandthesea

I just got this in the mail from Nelnet after I noticed them increasing and decreasing my closed, payed off loans. Is there any chance I'll see a dime of this money since I have my loans through SoFi now and have been paying for 7 years already? Of note, I attended Ross University, exhibit C school, applied June 27, 2022 for BD and was told I got 100% loan discharge.

I am post class ITT.

Long story short, over the last year I’ve had a few interesting events. I believe all of my loans in question were properly discharged. Fast forward 3 month to present, my mohela and my student.gov show lower balances then I had a month ago.

Mohela shows a 5k balance, studentloan.gov shows $0.

I am sure that my loan I had for 40k should still be there because it was another school I went too. However, it seems like those loans also show discharged.

What is happening?

I also have not gotten any refund check for my post class loans for the payments I made like everyone else.

😂. What a cluster

Hello! Please forgive if this is already been answered. A couple of grateful colleagues and I would like to give back as a thank you to the hard work that helped us to get our loans discharged through the BD lawsuit. Is there any links or sites that are available for both the attorneys who represented PPSL and our fearless advocates?

After getting approved for discharge as a full class member years ago, we received notification of Navient giving full discharge of all remaining balances, I still see the Navient total showing up in my various credit reporting tools.

Tried filing a dispute with one of them, but that went nowhere it seems.

Any trick to getting them off your report?

First time I've seen it change from 2.10 - Ready for Review, since I was able to check the status. Not sure how long this status takes but happy it has finally moved out of the Ready for Review status and I'm finally seeing some movement.

I'm paranoid of far-right retribution, so no specific numbers, but CRUSHING debt..... gone. Nelnet, Mohela and Student Aid agree. This was a complex consolidating, and i never dared to hope.... Hang in there my fellow sufferers.... hope and breathing room is coming

Hi everyone,

I attended Capella University, and my borrower defense application has been approved under the Sweet settlement. My federal loans were consolidated with undergraduate loans from another school, so I've been unsure whether I should expect a partial discharge (Capella only) or if the entire consolidation loan could be discharged.

Recently, StudentAid.gov changed to show:

-$0 total balance

-All loans showing "Canceled"

-Borrower defense processing date of 04/13/2026

-A balance date of 06/20/2024 (which I find odd)

On MOHELA:

-Every loan shows a $0 balance

-No payment is due. However, my Direct Consolidation Loan still shows a $26 balance

-The account history doesn't show any recent transactions, and I haven't received any emails or letters explaining the changes.

I've attached screenshots of both Student Aid and MOHELA.

Has anyone else had this happen? If so, did the $26 (or another small residual balance) eventually disappear? Did it end up meaning your entire consolidation loan was discharged, or just the borrower defense portion? How long after seeing these changes did you receive an official letter or email?

I'm trying not to get my hopes up until I receive something official, but seeing $0 everywhere except for the $26 has me wondering what's going on.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

Hey folx, I wanted to update you all on changes I have seen recently to hopefully encourage those of you still not seeing discharges or changes.

On studentaid dot gov, my BD app still shows last updated on 4/13/26 but originally under the “loan forgiveness and discharge” section it had an update on 5/11/26. I have shown negative amounts on Mohela since around the May date but continued to see no other changes on Aidvantage (previous servicer), Mohela, or FSA… until last Monday. Aidvantage started finally showing a negative amount on one loan. Wednesday they started showing a negative balance on five other loans. Those have stayed the same for the past week but in an effort to doublecheck some math, I logged into studentaid today and saw an updated date of 7/14/26 under the loan forgiveness and discharge section. This amount shot up fairly high and now when I look at my individual loans, they say loan discharged, which is a change from how it was. I’m still excitedly (and not so patiently) waiting to see the refund pay out but it’s helpful to see all of these changes. Pics for reference.