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How to Qualify for Borrower Defense and Get Your Student Loans Forgiven

LoanSense|Loan Guides|May 21, 2025

If you attended a school that misled you or engaged in deceptive practices, you could be eligible for a full discharge of your federal student loans through a program called Borrower Defense to Repayment. With over 100 schools flagged for misrepresentation—many of them for-profit institutions—borrowers are finally getting the justice they deserve.

At LoanSense, we’ve helped borrowers eliminate $80K to $100K+ in student debt by helping them consolidate and file strong applications. And with recent updates from the Biden-Harris administration, there’s more reason than ever to explore your eligibility.

Sign up for a FREE LoanSense plan and get IDR help now »

🎓 What Is Borrower Defense?

Borrower Defense to Repayment is a federal program that allows student loan borrowers to request forgiveness if their school misled them or engaged in fraudulent or deceptive behavior.

If you attended a school that:

  • Lied about job placement rates
  • Falsely claimed accreditation
  • Misrepresented graduation rates
  • Promised but didn’t deliver transferable credits or licensure
  • Used predatory lending or recruiting tactics
  • Charged you for semesters you didn’t attend

…you may qualify.

✅ Bonus: If the Department of Education doesn’t make a decision on your application within 3 years, your loans may be automatically discharged.

Is Your School on the Approved List?

More than 153 schools are included in the Department of Education’s list of institutions with substantiated claims. This includes many closed or for-profit schools.

What You’ll Need to Apply

Filing a successful Borrower Defense claim requires strong documentation. You'll need:

  • Transcripts & enrollment agreements
  • Promotional materials from the school
  • Communications (emails, texts, letters)
  • Course catalogs or student manuals
  • Any legal or written evidence of misrepresentation

📌 Tip: You can still apply even if you haven’t gathered all your evidence—LoanSense can help guide you through it.

Do You Meet the Time Limit?

Your Borrower Defense application must be filed within these deadlines:

  • For misconduct that occurred between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2020: You have 6 years
  • For incidents after July 1, 2020: You have just 3 years

If you're unsure, schedule a free 15-minute consult with LoanSense.

Pro Tips Before You Apply

  1. Consolidate non-direct loans first (Perkins, FFEL, etc.)
  2. Apply for the IDR Waiver if any loans don’t qualify for Borrower Defense
  3. Understand the impact on mortgages: Your loans may go into deferment during review, which could affect DTI ratios

💬 Real Borrower Success

We’ve seen multiple borrowers get over $100,000 in loan forgiveness using a combination of Borrower Defense and IDR enrollment. If you think you’ve been defrauded, it’s worth submitting an application.

"My school told me I could get a tech job after graduation. No one ever called. LoanSense helped me apply. I got $86,000 forgiven." – Former ITT Tech Borrower

🎯 Next Steps