Consumer Alert
Did you attend the University of Phoenix? Your federal loans might be forgiven.
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The Department of Education (ED) just announced that it will approve full federal student loan forgiveness for some University of Phoenix students. Want to know if you’re eligible to get your federal loans forgiven? Keep reading.
If you attended the school between September 21, 2012 and December 31, 2014, were deceived by the school’s claims, and submitted a valid application for relief through ED’s Borrower Defense program, you might well be eligible. ED’s decision is based in part on the FTC’s 2019 court action against the University of Phoenix for using deceptive advertising practices to get students to enroll. ED’s announcement today means even more relief for students harmed by the school’s false claims.
If you’ve already submitted a borrower defense claim, check the status of your application on the borrower defense page under “Manage My Applications.” Haven’t submitted one yet? File your claim now. And if you got a refund from the FTC’s settlement, don’t worry: You’re still eligible for loan forgiveness through ED’s borrower defense program. Actually, be sure to mention it when you apply. Find out more at ftc.gov/UOP.
Choosing a college is a very important decision. To find the right fit for you, a little research goes a long way. Go to ftc.gov/education to learn how to research schools. And if your school hasn’t lived up to its promises, report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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What about relief for students prior to 2012, such as when the University of Phoenix first became known in an area? The whole program was a scam. As a "working adult student", it eventually became clear that having UofP on my resume made me a joke, never "got" me a job, and I eventually removed it from my resume and have refused to tell anyone I went there.
In reply to What about relief for… by A.L
I'm wondering the same thing. I graduated from there in December 2009.
In reply to I'm wondering the same thing… by Sarah Bell
So did I in 2009.... the scan scamming did not start on 2012.... THAT'S A FACT!
In reply to So did I in 2009.... the… by DANIEL R SMITH
I went in 2008 I stayed for only one year bc they lied to me and now I owe over $29000 in student loans help
In reply to What about relief for… by A.L
Right what about the students prior … makes no sense so only half got scammed?? We just get left with our student scam loans. Sounds weird to me.
In reply to What about relief for… by A.L
That’s what I was wondering. The scamming was going on before 2012. So everyone else gets nothing I guess.
In reply to That’s what I was wondering… by Alicia
I agree with your statement, because I was too!
In reply to What about relief for… by A.L
Yes, I would start a case with the borrowers defense page. I graduated in 2012 and had emails from when I was recruited showing similar claims from the university. My application was approved.
I attended UoP in 2000-2001. Why doesn't this policy include all students with outstanding loans.
I received a settlement of $37.00 but I am still being charged over $10,000 for student loans which is on my credit with no degree to show for it. The university never called me back it looked at one point it was off my credit then put back on how can I resolve this? Thank you
In reply to I received a settlement of … by Crystal cote
Good Afternoon,
I have read every comment out there pertaining to all the students who have attend UOP, I have walk in many of your shoes to cave in quiet when it comes to the unfairness, and getting the justice we deserve. I have been on the spectrum were I received no settlement and some students received FTC settlements.Continue to push, and advocate to get your student loan forgiven. Fill out the borrower defense form, and talk to State legislative to why your loans should be forgiven connect with advocacy groups in Washington. Your day is coming don't give it!
In reply to Good Afternoon, I have read… by Genevieve Morris
Genevieve,
I appreciate your response, as it offers some hope. I was a graduate of 2011, and still haven’t been able to use my degree in Business Management (BSM). I was charged more for having to relocate from Florida to Washington state, just to complete my degree. The whole process of relocating was a daunting, confusing, and expensive continuation to at least graduate. I had new advisors, and a lot of work to do on my part to figure the program out….they got me good, as I thought that I was going to get this high paying job; to pay off my school debt! Well, here I am today to see if anyone else has the same dilemma as I do. I plan to do exactly what you suggested! Thank you for your comment!
I did not clearly understood how payments were distributed. I also left the University because some instructors weren’t teaching at a university level. Lack of coordination. I attended during that period. Based on this information regarding fraud, it make sense what I experienced.
What about those of us who sold everything, worked multiple jobs, put off making a family, and lived in squalor for years in order to pay off their loan? Can I get that money refunded?
In reply to What about those of us who… by Laura
If you read the FAQ section, it mentions if your Defense claim is approved that paid loans could be refunded.
In reply to What about those of us who… by Laura
This is what I am wondering as well.
I also attended in 2010 and was told by a faulty member at medical hospital that the degree was a joke and I wouldn’t be able to get a job with it. I still try to hold onto the degree but I know it’s meaningless. I took our spot off loans for this school.
Those of us who attended in 2008 and prior to 2012 was also deceived by the University.
Is it possible to add the years 2008 as we are stuck paying student loans that never materialized into jobs.
I was enrolled June 2012-December 2014...would I be included in this?
Yes I did attend this school
I attended the university of Phoenix online 2007 to 2009 why am I not affected by this
I attended and enrolled in 2008 and had to drop out becausecI was told I did not have anymore funding left to finish. I was a year from graduating.
In reply to I attended and enrolled in… by Jennifer updegraff
That's what happened to me, too! They kept increasing the tuition after the fact, and wanted me to pay the difference out of pocket! I didn't even finish one semester because I could no longer afford it! Yet I still have a loan to pay off!
What about prior students before September 2012???I attended University of Phoenix and I graduated in April 2012. I was lied to about their partnership affiliations with At&t and DMC hospitals. The recruiter was at my job and very aggressive with calling me trying to get me to enroll stating I had to enroll before a certain date to be able to sign up with their partner affiliations to be eligible to do my externship.
I enrolled March 2014, submitted my BDTR form Oct 2022 with the FTC evidence including my payment and was told by the phone reps today at the Borrower Defense line that I didn’t qualify because it only applies to those who applied before June 22, 2022. Hopefully someone looks into this.
I used my GI Bill to cover the cost of the classes so are they going to credit back military members for using their VA benefits?
I attended and finally left UoP in 2009 after completing my Associates and starting on the Bachelors program. Not only was I not impressed with the learning format as I was having to complete the work for others who were not pulling their weight (let alone able to form complete sentences). But I also then started to inquire on the certifications and degrees that I was told were offered by their program only to find out they were never an option and was told to go to a JC to get those certifications. I also spoke to my aunt who was finishing up her Doctorate, only to find out my subpar education was costing me almost as much as her Higher Education Degree at a legitimate university. That was enough for me to quit. I reported this to my state legislatures years ago and there was a small news article on how they are researching the issues that people are facing with these types of false advertising universities, but nothing has come of it except for this settlement that does not seem to apply to those who were before or after these enrollment dates. At this point I will be still paying back while I am on my death bed.
I feel like I was deceived by a deceptive transfer credit policy. But I went to school too early for the forgiveness :(
I took levels 1-4 of C++ programming at Utah State University, worked, albeit as an intern, for 5 years doing c++ development and then was forced by UoP to take 'introduction to C++' because they said I had taken the first C++ programming class too long ago. I completed the class assignments by 12:20 am on the day the class opened, but I think the university got the last laugh.
At a job interview I said I went to UoP and he all but laughed in my face. So yeah, I want my $50k back lol.
I was deceived well encouraged from 2005-2009 and was attending my local college! They persuaded me come there with the same practices as mentioned though I graduated in 2009! Please help me..
Was a student at Uof P from 2014-17. The ftc made it seem as if the loans would automatically be forgiven. I am still waiting to hear something.
In reply to Was a student at Uof P from… by JOHN H EMERSON
I was deceived by University of Phoenix. I tried to do it in 2008-2009. They had me take out loans to support loans. They claimed they were friendly to people who were working jobs and they were not. They were certainly not transparent at all about their practices and when I realized that they were being shady, I stopped everything. I made a request for an Americans With Disabilities act request in which they would not honor. In fact they told me to go get the testing all over again which would have costed me a substantial amount ($1500) in which their loans wouldn't even cover. They only wanted my money. They took my money and ran. They didn't require prerequisite learning and I was mismatched with other students. Very much in over my head. They did not listen to the requests. Navient was the loan holder and they always said that they WERE the Federal Government and that no help exisited though I had reached out numerous times. UOP said they were going to "academically suspend me" because I was not able to atend their classes, made the ADA request and could not honor the fact that I was a truck driver, stuck in Washington DC traffic and could not attend the online chat session. So much for Worker Friendly. When I realized I was being scammed, I put a halt to the whole thing. I was compelled to withdraw at the threat of the academic suspension. They were not going to talk or cooperate. I haven't paid them in 15 years and now all the sudden they want their money. I took Bankruptcy in 2014 in which they were listed. I filed a borrower's defense against repayment and they have since destroyed my credit. I never ever tried to go to take any type of college after that . Now that I'm older, I probably never will. I do not have kind words for them or Navient. Navient is nothing but snake oil and has lied to me and can not be trusted.
Anyone know how long the Borrower Defense takes? I attended UoP in 2009-2010. I submitted my borrower defense case in June of 2022 and it’s still in “Pending” status 28 months later.
In reply to Anyone know how long the… by Doug
I have learned with my research that the Dept of Education has up to 3 years to make a decision. I also attended UOP for my MBA and graduated in 2012. I was encouraged to continue for a higher degree after I completed my BSN with UOP. The cost was more expensive than what I was quoted and I was told they offered job placement services which is false.