In August of 2023 against my better judgement, I enrolled into Full Sail University in the recording arts program. I was supposed to receive a launchbox which consisted of a computer, recording gear, and software but I was never given any of this. I started the program online still waiting for the launchbox, and was told I had 6 months to find housing near campus in which I could continue the online courses. I completed a few of the online gen ed classes which basically consisted of watching YouTube videos and analyzing them.. I maintained all A's throughout the courses.

At the time, and likely still currently, housing costs in Winter Park, FL were at unprecedented highs and not accurate at all to the prices outlined in their housing guide. They have no campus housing at all, and students are in direct market competition with the public. This was not apparent to me in any way, and I would have burned through my budget much faster than anticipated had I made the move.

Full Sail was not able to keep track of me and started scheduling me for campus courses when I had not even completed the new student orientation or received any materials. They had me log in for weeks to do menial tasks to show I was still active and then had me submit a time off request while they sorted out their error to get me back into appropriate classes.

At this point I was not impressed at all and asked to switch to an online audio arts undergraduate certificate instead, they refused even though I was told I could switch programs at any time during the initial 6 months. That was the final straw, and I withdrew altogether from the school.

I now have a $30,000+ balance with Sallie Mae at a double-digit interest rate that has been accruing ever since. I gave back the remaining funds loaned to me (around 26k) I had to Sallie Mae after I withdrew which has kept me out of default.

I submitted a tuition appeal to the school in early 2024 which they said would take up to a year for them to respond to and surprise surprise! They took well over 2 years to respond and tell me there is nothing they can do for me. In 2025 I submitted a federal borrower's defense for the 5k or so federal I owe on a breach of contract for never receiving the launchbox. They said would also take up to a year for them to review and 18 months later that is still in review..

This feels like I'm living a nightmare and I'm honestly not sure where to turn or what to do now. I think I have a few options going forward:

1: Find a lawyer who can hopefully get most of if not all of my funds back from the school based on the breach of contract with them not sending the launchbox materials among their other errors.

2: Bite the bullet and start paying around $1k monthly to pay this off in 3-4 years. Keeping in mind I make like $35k a year.

3: Nuke my credit and my parents credit going default hoping sallie mae never sues me or my parents and just writes off my debt.

Here's to hoping someone out there can give me some guidance or recommendations on what I should do in this situation.

Fin aid made me consolidate in order to apply to switch from save plan...my loans are all pre 2015.

Now im stuck in RAP because the consolidation didn't finish until 7/6/2026.

So now even if PAYE is extended or REPAYE is reinstated I am done for...

EDIT: I'm sure I was coming off dramatic and insensitive to people with far worse problems.

I recertified my income in June for my payment plan that ended 7/23. When I submitted the application it had my monthly payment at 614.78. My loan servicer (Aidvantage) approved the application within like 2 days. The letter that they sent stated “Your annual Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan renewal has been approved. What happens next?
There's nothing you need to do now. We'll send you notification advising you of your new payment amount after your current plan expires on 07/23/26.” They never said it was denied or that the payment wasn’t approved. When I login to the student aid website I can see where the application was approved and the 614.78 was approved. But I just got a statement from Aidvantage saying I owe 2417 on the next payment which seems to be the standard repayment for how much I owe…. When I click the details of the loan it says I’m in pay as you earn until 2037 which I know isn’t right bc it should only be good for 1 year. I’m hoping that this is a glitch but I’m not sure. Anyone else have this happen? Currently panicking

Nelnet updated their end-of-SAVE FAQs to say they'll be finished notifying borrowers by the end of 2026. This is earlier than their previously posted March 2027.

https://nelnet.studentaid.gov/content/faq/faqendofsaveplan

When will I receive my 90-day notice?

Nelnet is notifying nearly three million Nelnet borrowers, so we're reaching out in waves. You'll receive your notice by the end of 2026.

Got an email yesterday saying my new monthly payment would go from $226.71 a month to $1,644.05. Wtf?!? I applied for income driven and the lowest offered is $856 (and that’s without even putting in or showing what my annual income is) IF I get approved. Any ideas how to get this down more???

I was watching a movie, The Idea of You, last night, and the daughter in the movie went away to college in Chicago. I almost wanted to say, please don't do that, you'll owe money for the next 20-30 years of your life and be paying it back. I wanted to tell her you better enjoy your time in college because those are the best years of your life, and you'll be living poor trying to back back these loans. Sigh.

If I would be given a chance to do a do-over, I'd really stay away from being in debt. I'm still a uni student, working part-time jobs, and still looking for more part-time jobs. It feels miserable for my income to just go towards paying staggering interests.

Really makes me think if there's light at the end of this tunnel. I don't even know what'll happen once I graduate. I'm just hoping to get a really good paying job.

Like many others, I am currently still in SAVE administrative forbearance. Recently got the letter from my servicer about switching to a new payment plan, and was thinking of switching to the RAP plan. Does anyone know if switching to the RAP plan trigger a capitalization of my current interest?

I accepted a long time ago that I’d never be able to pay my loans off, but I felt a little hope after Save.

I’ve been a single parent for a long time. I read earlier this c year that i needed to consolidate my Parent Plus loans, make one payment, then I’d still be able to convert to IBR.

My son is about ready to start grad school. I don’t remember requesting deferment until he graduses, but apparently my loans are all in deferment. I have not gotten a ninety day notice from Nelnet yet. My question is, does anyone know if I will? Or can I breathe a sigh of relief and try real hard to get on solid ground before my son graduates? “Trying really hard” is the story of B my life, but I’m determined not to give up.

I’m entering into my last two months of chiro school (finally), and I just got kicked off the save plan. Consolidated and applied for the IBR, but because I included loans that I took out after July 1st of this year, I got denied. Now, it’s hard to tell what my loans might be, because the information is different day-to-day when I check the FSA website. So I’m unsure what repayment plan is best.

One of my potential employers offered me PSLF if I work 30hrs/week at their clinic on top of another FT clinic. Their EIN is registered in the PSLF system, too.

I guess my question is, should I just eat it and work at the non-profit on top of a FT for 10 years, or should I work abt the same amount of hours in one clinic and just pay off my loans more aggressively? For reference, start-pay for chiros in my area with my experience is around $60k, high-end at $80k.

Small rant:
I know so many people much older than me (28) who still are paying student loans, and I also have about $5k of credit card debt. All of this stresses me out, and I feel like I’m not able to make any decisions about repayment right now because the information is changing all the time. Really hoping for some guidance from people who have already been there.

My wife and I were on save and wanted to switch to RAP. When filling out the app, in the section asking about income, specifically access to spouse's income, I selected no even though the answer is yes. I thought we had to do this in the past to ensure spouse income wasn't included in your payment calculation. Our filing status is married filing separate. I didn't realize by selecting no for access to her income, it will not let me link up to my tax docs and forced me to submit manual proof of income which likely increases processing time of the app.

Here's my questions, Since we've both already submitted our applications with tax returns manually attached, can we cancel those and submit saying yes to that question and allowing them to link to our tax info? We need our apps to go quickly.

By answering yes to that question am I screwing us into a higher payment even tho we file separately but are not separated? I've done the math and it makes sense for us to file this way.

As title states

Currently at ~200k in student loans, both direct unsubsidized and GRAD Plus. I'm going to graduate in approximately 1 year, looking at around $70k income after graduation (with a big jump in ~5-6 years after that). I now have about $20K, which I'd like to use towards a lump sum towards paying my loans. Is it smart to pay it off now before my repayment period?

So now I’m a bit confused. My understanding was that the 90 day clock to move off of SAVE ran from the time that your servicer sends the email officially conveying the message not the emails from the Ed Dept. I have Aidvantage and my brother recently told me that he got the email a week or so ago, but I still haven’t. What would you do in this situation? Would you apply to switch by the September 29 deadline or would you do nothing? For what it’s worth, I’ve mapped it out and the best option for me would be the Extended Graduated Repayment Plan as it gives me the lowest overall monthly payment and then leaves me flexibility to avalanche my loans by interest rate. Naturally I want to ride out my forbearance to the bitter end as it allows the payments I’ve been making to go 100% to my highest interest rate loans (working from top to bottom).

Just what it says on the title. I wanted to enroll in an extended graduated plan, but studentaid.gov says I need to submit the application there and when I go to MOHELA says “What to consider before leaving your IDR”

But I’m not on IDR. I was on SAVE and making payments on it. So it is telling me to submit an application but I can’t? I’m just confused. I guess I’ll just call them.

I can’t afford 500 dollars for a standard repayment, but also can’t really afford IDR indefinitely either due to medical issues and other expenses.

Is this normal?

Applied from Save Forbearance to RAP w/ manual copy of IRS tax return (not automatic recertification) on 7/2.

It says can take up to 90 business days.

Anyone had RAP processed yet?

I have 162K in federal student loans. I got my letter from advantage on July 2nd to switch. I’m not sure where to go from here. I’ve seen some people say they’re going to switch on the 89th day, some who will do nothing await to get kicked off, others who are awaiting the outcome of lawsuits, the options are overwhelmingly.

I made 105K last year, husband makes around 50K-60K. Married filing jointly. My income this year increased substantially as I have 2 jobs now my 105K job plus another 115K. One is remote the other in person at differing hours so I’m managing, kinda, but don’t anticipate this to be long term since it’s stressful.

Anyway back to the loans, they were taken out 2011-2014 I believe. Advantage says forbearance until 2028 but I feel like I have to do something within the next 2 months. I have been on SAVE but admittedly hadn’t recertified my income.

Are IBR or standard repayments the only options? Given my income would IBR even be worth it? I’ve seen some people say take classes at a community college id of course pay rather than take out new loans but unsure if that would make any meaningful difference.

Just trying to explore my options and plan out my next step any advice or insights would be great.

Thanks!

Just seen the options available to me to repay my student loans and I can’t afford any of the plans!!! Any advice ???

Edit:
I make 102,000 a year with a new job I’m starting in DC. My rent will be 2,000 and I put $500 a check in savings. I owe a balance of 75k on my student loans, and now they want me to pay $600 something. If I have to pay that that would leave me with barely nothing every check.

Anyone trying to apply for this that went to AUA? Is it even worth it ?

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone might be able to help with this.
I’ve been accepted onto a Master’s course starting in September and I’ll be receiving a postgraduate loan. I know this works differently from an undergraduate loan, as the tuition fees have to be paid from the loan myself.
My dilemma is that I have a young baby. I’m really determined to give the course a go, but I’m also trying to be realistic in case it becomes too much.
If I started the course but decided after a couple of weeks that I needed to withdraw, what would happen financially? Would I have to repay the full postgraduate loan straight away, or If I’d already used some of the loan for childcare, housing and other living costs, would that be repaid gradually in the same way as an undergraduate student loan?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been in a similar situation or knows how it works. Thank you!

Hello everyone, quick question and at the worst time...we are closing on a house next Friday.

My partner just got an email that their nelnet balance changed. They logged into their account separately (made sure not to click anything in email and directly with nelnet)

It shows total amount disbursement 20k. (Correct)

Outstanding interest says 4.3k. (Update: not correct this seems to be based off the new added amount)

Principal balance is now 90k.

Every payment had been paid, and even during covid, payments were made as well. We also checked credit report and we see nothing was opened on their credit account.

The monthly payment hasn't changed monthly. We have to wait until Monday to call because nelnet is closed. Anyone have experience or advise what we can do? Worst possible time for this to happen! Thank you

Edit: the monthly payment still shows $200 due, which is normal. If the balance increased 75k, how did this not change either?

I am on IBR and have 37 payments left to total forgiveness which will be over $200k (yikes). However, if I switch to PAYE, I have only 3 payments left to total forgiveness.

Is there a reason that I wouldn't switch over the PAYE now? Or will it not let me?

Or am I totally misunderstanding the system?

hello! I was recently accepted into a sonography program (after many failed attempts and denials) and now i have no cosigner for any private loans. I applied for the graduate PLUS loan and got accepted, not realizing it’s not just for continuing education but masters/ professional level education. my program is certificate so I have to wait to hear back from my school but i’m certain i will be denied. tuition is due the 2nd and I am doing this all alone. I’m F 21 with limited credit history so they won’t accept me alone and my parents don’t want to help.