Navient Now Offers Private Loan Forgiveness: Are You Eligible?

• You may qualify for Navient’s forgiveness program if your school engaged in misleading recruitment or provided false job placement rates.

• You’ll need strong documentation to support your claim, including legal notices or public records showing the school’s misconduct.

• To apply for forgiveness, you need to request an application directly from Navient by phone or email.

Navient offers a private loan forgiveness program for borrowers who attended certain for-profit schools, like the Art Institutes, ITT Tech, and DeVry. These schools have been accused of misleading students with false job placement data and other questionable practices.

This program is separate from the Navient lawsuit settlement reached in 2022, which only forgave loans for specific borrowers in default who lived in certain states. If you didn’t qualify under that settlement, Navient’s School Misconduct Discharge Program might still be an option for you.

If your school used misleading practices, you could be eligible for Navient’s private student loan forgiveness program, even if you weren’t part of the settlement. In this guide, we’ll explain how to check if you qualify, what documents you’ll need, and how to apply.

Related: Is Navient a Private or Federal Student Loan?

Navient’s Private Loan Forgiveness Program offers a way to cancel private student loans for borrowers who went to for-profit schools that acted unfairly. If your school gave false job placement data, used pushy recruitment tactics, or provided misleading information, you might qualify to have your loans forgiven under this program.

This program is different from federal loan forgiveness options, like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or income-driven repayment plans. Navient hasn’t widely promoted this private loan forgiveness, so many people don’t know they might be eligible. It’s similar to the federal Borrower Defense to Repayment program, but it’s specifically for private loans.

While this program can offer relief, many borrowers find the application process confusing. Nonprofit groups like the Project on Predatory Student Lending have stepped in to help by making the forms easier to understand and guiding borrowers through what documents are needed.

Navient introduced its Private Loan Forgiveness Program in response to legal battles, regulatory pressure, and advocacy efforts aimed at holding the company accountable for predatory lending practices. Advocacy groups like the Project on Predatory Student Lending (PPSL) exposed how Navient was failing to offer relief, which ultimately led to the creation of the School Misconduct Discharge program.

In 2022, Navient reached a $1.85 billion settlement with 39 state attorneys general, requiring them to cancel loans for borrowers in default. But many borrowers who were still making student loan payments weren’t included in the settlement.

Regulatory pressure from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the U.S. Department of Education also played a role in pushing Navient to release this program, offering relief to borrowers whose schools misled them.

This program now provides a path for borrowers to seek forgiveness, even if they haven’t defaulted on their loans.

Related:

• Navient Loans Transferred to Aidvantage

• Navient to MOHELA: What This Transfer Means

To support your application for Navient’s Private Loan Forgiveness Program, you’ll need to provide evidence that your school engaged in misleading or deceptive practices. The stronger your documentation, the better your chances of having your loan discharged.

Examples of useful evidence include:

• Marketing materials that exaggerated job placement rates or earnings

• Emails or written communication promising credit transferability

• Enrollment agreements or contracts outlining false claims

• Records of recruitment tactics that pressured you into enrolling

If you don’t have these documents, you can still explain your situation in writing when submitting your application. Provide as much detail as possible about your experience and how your school’s misconduct influenced your decision to attend.

Related: How to Qualify for Borrower Defense to Repayment

You qualify for this program if you attended certain for-profit schools and were directly harmed by their misconduct, such as being misled about job placement rates, educational quality, or credit transferability.

To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

• You took out private loans from Navient or Sallie Mae to attend a for-profit school.

• Your school engaged in misleading or deceptive practices that influenced your decision to enroll.

• You can provide supporting evidence, such as promotional materials, enrollment contracts, or other documentation, showing how the school’s false claims affected you.

Federal loans like Federal Family Education Loans are not eligible for this program. If you have FFEL Loans, look into Biden’s student loan forgiveness programs to see if you qualify.

Related: How to Get FFEL Loans Forgiven

Step 1: Contact Navient for the Application

To get started, request the School Misconduct Discharge Application directly from Navient by:

• Phone: Call Navient at (888) 545-4199.

• Email: Send a request to advocate@navient.com.

If Navient refuses to provide the application, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Make sure to read the instructions carefully once you receive the form, and ensure all information is accurate to avoid delays.

Step 2: Fill Out the Application

Provide a detailed account of how your school misled you. Be thorough in explaining any false promises about job placements, graduation rates, or recruitment tactics. Include supporting documents like:

• An approval notice from the Education Department for a Borrower Defense to Repayment claim (if applicable).

• Legal notices or public records documenting your school’s misconduct.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Once your application is complete and all supporting documents are attached, submit it by either mail or email:

• Mail: Navient, P.O. Box 4200, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773-4200

• Email: advocate@navient.com

Keep copies of everything you send for your records.

Step 4: Monitor Your Application and Follow Up

After submitting your application, Navient’s processing time may vary. Be patient but proactive—follow up regularly if you don’t hear back within a reasonable time. You can call or email Navient to check on the status of your application.

1. Appeal or Reapply with Better Documentation

Find out why your application was rejected by asking Navient for an explanation. This will help you understand if your documentation was weak or your school’s misconduct didn’t meet their criteria.

Here’s how you can improve your appeal or reapplication:

• Gather more evidence: Review what you submitted and see if you can add more proof. This could be legal rulings, media reports, or a more detailed account of how the school misled you.

• Strengthen your explanation: Be specific about how the school’s actions impacted your decision to take out loans and caused financial harm.

• Get expert help: Consider reaching out to advocacy groups like the Project on Predatory Student Lending or consulting with our student loan lawyers. We can help you make a stronger case when you reapply or appeal.

2. File a Complaint with the CFPB

If you think Navient denied your application unfairly, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They oversee private loan servicers and can investigate if you feel mistreated.

To file a complaint:

• Go to the CFPB website and follow the steps to submit a complaint about private student loans.

• Include all the important details about your application, the reason for denial, and any communication you’ve had with Navient.

Filing a complaint can sometimes lead to a re-review of your application or further communication from Navient. If even you reapplied then were denied again for not qualifying for Navient’s private loan forgiveness, you may explore these detailed guides:

• Settling Navient Student Loan Debt – Expert Tips

• How to Refinance Navient Student Loans

1. Difficulty Getting the Application

Some borrowers have trouble obtaining the School Misconduct Discharge Application from Navient. If this happens, be persistent. Contact Navient by phone and email, and keep records of your communication.

If you still can’t get the form, consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or seek help from advocacy groups like the Project on Predatory Student Lending, which has made the form publicly available.

2. Lack of Guidance on Filling Out the Application

Even after getting the form, you might not be sure how to complete it, especially when describing your school’s misconduct. Make your descriptions as detailed as possible.

Gather any documents that can back up your claims, such as Borrower Defense to Repayment approvals, public records, or errors on your credit report caused by the loans or school’s misconduct.

If you need help, reach out to advocacy groups or our expert lawyers who specialize in student loan forgiveness.

3. Rejections Without a Clear Explanation

If your application is rejected without a proper explanation, ask Navient for detailed reasons why. This feedback can help you find gaps in your application.

Navient’s private loan forgiveness program can offer valuable relief, but you’ll need strong documentation to support your claim. Be persistent, especially if you face rejections or delays. If you’re struggling, consider getting help from experts or filing a complaint with the CFPB.

Book a call with our top student loan lawyers today. We’ll guide you through the steps and help you improve your chances of success.

Schedule your consultation now and take control of your financial future.