Full Sail Student Loan Forgiveness: How to Get It

Quick Facts

• If you’re a Full Sail student who experienced school misconduct or misrepresentation, such as false promises about job placement rates or the transferability of credits, you may be eligible for Navient’s private student loanPrivate Student LoanA student loan issued by a bank, credit union, or other private lender rather than the federal government. Private loans generally lack federal protections like income-driven repayment and broad forgiveness programs. forgiveness program.
• Borrower Defense to RepaymentBorrower Defense to RepaymentA federal process for discharging Direct Loans when the school misled the borrower or engaged in misconduct related to the loan or the educational services it promised. is a federal program that offers loan discharge to borrowers whose schools engaged in fraudulent or deceptive practices. You can apply for this program if you believe Full Sail University misled you.
• In addition to these programs, you may also benefit from the IDR Account Adjustment, Public Service Loan ForgivenessPublic Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)A federal program that forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments made while working full-time for a government or qualifying nonprofit employer., and the SAVE PlanSAVE Plan (SAVE)The Saving on a Valuable Education Plan, a federal income-driven repayment plan introduced in 2023 to replace REPAYE. Its implementation has been subject to ongoing litigation, and enrolled borrowers have faced court-ordered forbearance periods., which offer loan forgiveness based on factors such as income, repayment length, and public service employment.
• If you’re a parent who borrowed Parent PLUS Loans for your child’s education at Full Sail University, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness through various programs, such as Borrower Defense to Repayment, PSLF, and Income-Contingent RepaymentIncome-Contingent Repayment (ICR)The oldest federal income-driven repayment plan, with payments generally set at 20% of discretionary income or a fixed 12-year amount, whichever is lower. It is the only IDR plan available to Parent PLUS borrowers after consolidation. Plan forgiveness. You may also use the double consolidation loophole to qualify for the SAVE Plan and lower your monthly payments.

Full-Sail Loan Forgiveness Overview

Many Full Sail students who are struggling with student loan debt went to the university between 2004 and 2018, with a significant number enrolling around the Great Recession in 2008. These students come from various programs, including game design, audio engineering, and entertainment business.

No matter the program they were pursuing, many shared a common feeling after leaving school: frustration and fear of not knowing how to get student loan forgiveness for their debt from Full Sail University.

But there is hope.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide to the options available specifically for Full Sail students and an overview of other federal programs that may relate to their situation.

Related: List of Schools That Defrauded Students

Borrower Defense to Repayment

What it is: Borrower Defense to Repayment is a federal program that lets borrowers seek loan forgiveness if their school engaged in misconduct or misrepresentation. This program applies to federal Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, and Federal Perkins Loans.

How it works: Full Sail students who believe they were misled or subjected to misconduct by the school may be eligible for BDR. Examples might include:

• False promises about job placement rates or earning potential in the game design, audio engineering, or entertainment business industries.
• Misrepresentations about the transferability of credits earned in these programs.
• Deceptive claims about the quality of education or resources in specific fields of study.

Who qualifies: To be eligible for BDR, you must have federal Direct Loans, FFEL Program loans, or Federal Perkins Loans and be able to show your school engaged in misconduct or misrepresentation. The misconduct must have violated state or federal law and relate to your loans or educational services.

How to apply: To apply for BDR, you must complete an application online through the Federal Student AidFederal Student Aid (FSA)The office within the U.S. Department of Education that manages federal grants, work-study, and student loans. It runs the FAFSA, the StudentAid.gov website, and oversees the federal loan servicers. website or by mail. In your application, provide detailed information about your school’s misconduct and how it influenced your decision to attend or borrow loans. You must also submit any supporting evidence, such as promotional materials, enrollment agreements, or emails from school officials.

Current status and legal challenges: While the BDR program has been in place for several years, it has faced legal challenges and changes.

In 2023, the Biden administration proposed new regulations to make it easier for borrowers to receive loan forgiveness through BDR. However, a group of for-profit schools challenged these regulations in court. Judges from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals entered an injunction that put their implementation on hold.

Despite the legal challenges, the BDR program remains active, and borrowers can still apply for loan forgiveness. The U.S. Department of EducationU.S. Department of Education (ED)The federal agency that oversees federal student aid programs, issues regulations for federal student loans, and is the ultimate lender on Direct Loans. will continue to process applications under the existing regulations while the legal challenges are resolved.

Navient Private Student Loan Forgiveness

What it is: Navient offers a private student loan forgiveness program specifically for borrowers misled by their schools. This program is separate from federal loan forgiveness options and only applies to private student loans serviced by Navient.

How it works: If you have private student loans with Navient and believe your school engaged in misconduct or misrepresentation, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness. Examples of school misconduct include false promises about job placement rates, earning potential, or the transferability of credits.

Who qualifies: To be eligible for Navient’s private student loan forgiveness program, you must have private student loans serviced by Navient and be able to show that your school engaged in misconduct or misrepresentation. Eligibility is not based on your income, employment status, or length of repayment.

This program only applies to Navient private student loans. You will not be eligible for this program if you have private loans with other lenders. However, you may have other options for seeking relief, such as the holder-in-due-course rule, a 1975 Federal Trade Commission regulation that lets borrowers contest their debt if the goods or services bought were fraudulent.

How to apply: To apply for Navient’s private student loan forgiveness, you must contact Navient directly and ask for an application. You can call their customer service line or email their designated address for loan forgiveness inquiries.

Deadline: Navient’s private student loan forgiveness program is ongoing, and there is no specific deadline to apply. But act promptly if you believe you qualify. The process may take some time, and you’ll want to make sure you’re able to provide documentation to support your case.

Other Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

IDRIncome-Driven Repayment (IDR)A category of federal student loan repayment plans that calculate monthly payments based on income and family size rather than loan balance. Any remaining balance can be forgiven after 20–25 years of qualifying payments. Account Adjustment: In April 2022, the Education Department announced a one-time account adjustment opportunity for borrowers to receive credit toward loan forgiveness for time spent in repayment, deferment, or forbearance. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2024.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans for borrowers who work full-time for government organizations or non-profit organizations and meet certain other requirements.

SAVE Plan: A new income-driven repayment plan that offers lower monthly payments and faster loan forgiveness than other plans. It replaces the REPAYERevised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE)A former federal income-driven repayment plan that capped payments at 10% of discretionary income, with forgiveness after 20 or 25 years. REPAYE was replaced by the SAVE Plan in 2023. Plan and is available to most borrowers with federal Direct Loans. Related: How the SAVE Plan Works

Parent PLUS LoanParent PLUS LoanA federal Direct PLUS Loan taken out by the biological, adoptive, or stepparent of a dependent undergraduate student. The parent is legally responsible for repayment, not the student. Forgiveness: Parents who borrowed Parent PLUS Loans for their child’s education at Full Sail University may be eligible for loan forgiveness through various programs, such as Borrower Defense to Repayment, PSLF, and Income-Contingent Repayment Plan forgiveness. They may also be able to take advantage of the “double consolidation” loophole to qualify for the SAVE Plan. Related: Parent PLUS Loan Forgiveness

What Former Students Have to Say About Full Sail

“"Don't fall for the Full Sail University trap," warns @uzybatshemesh.”

Full Sail University students have shared mixed experiences regarding the value of their education and the school’s marketing practices. While some students believe they received a worthwhile education, others feel misled by the school’s promises and are now struggling with significant student loan debt.

A Valuable Education for Some

@dondaytaylor, a Full Sail graduate, acknowledges that the school is expensive but not a scam. He enjoyed the program and the opportunities it provided, noting that those who stuck with it often found value in their education.

“Full Sail’s 100% what you make it,” says Donday, emphasizing the importance of networking and active participation.

But he also saw that students who struggled with balancing housing, work, and fast-paced classes often dropped out, which contributed to the negative perception.

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Despite having friends who enjoyed their time at Full Sail, he highlights a significant issue: post-graduation job placement.

“Most of the complaints I hear are about what happens after you graduate. Entry-level music industry jobs are garbage, and you will end up being a coffee grabber,” he says.

Both @uzybatshemesh and @soundlearn, another Full Sail graduate, criticize the school’s marketing for creating unrealistic expectations about job placement and industry connections. They stress that Full Sail should be treated as a technical school where success depends on hard work and realistic expectations, not as a “fast lane to the rockstar life.”

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Deceptive Practices

@daisneyt911, a 2019 graduate, recounts a troubling experience with Full Sail’s financial practices. Despite being promised that her final $13,000 in tuition would be covered by a government grant due to her excellent grades, a routine credit check revealed six more loans taken out in her name, totaling $35,000.

“They told me it was a government grant, that I wouldn’t have to pay it back,” she explains, highlighting what she considers deceptive practices by the school. Her experience has led her to caution others against trusting the school’s financial promises without thorough verification.

While some students on Reddit compare Full Sail to schools like Art Institutes, DeVry, and ITT Tech, the experiences and outcomes may vary. Some Full Sail students have found success in their chosen fields, while others struggle with debt and limited job prospects.

Related: Art Institutes Borrower Defense to Repayment

Exploring Loan Forgiveness Options

If you believe you were misled by Full Sail’s marketing or experienced misconduct, you might be eligible for Borrower Defense to Repayment. This program could lead to the federal government canceling all of your loans to attend the school. However, this program has faced challenges and has a history of low approval rates.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Borrower Defense and the limitations of Navient’s private loan forgiveness program, it’s important to explore all available loan forgiveness options. These include income-driven repayment plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and the recently announced IDR account adjustment.

Some Full Sail students are part of the ongoing Sweet v. Cardona class action lawsuit, which aims to provide loan forgiveness to borrowers who went to schools that misrepresented their programs. However, relief may be delayed due to the legal process.

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Bottom Line

Explore your eligibility and gather supporting documents to apply for these programs. Act quickly, as some opportunities have deadlines.

For personalized help, book a 1:1 consultation with our student loan experts today.