Biden Admin Discharges Another $4.5 Billion in Student Loan Debts for 261,000 Borrowers

The U.S. Department of Education on Jan. 15 said it has approved a discharge of $4.5 billion in federal student loans owed by former students of a for-profit university, citing evidence of “deceptive” practices at the institution. The relief applies to 261,000 borrowers who attended Ashford University from March 1, 2009, through April 30, 2020. Eligible borrowers will receive email notifications in the coming days and will not need to take additional action, regardless of whether they have applied for the discharge. A mostly online school with more than 80,000 students at its peak, Ashford has faced extensive scrutiny over its recruitment practices. Since 2017, the state of California has pursued legal action against Ashford for allegedly using false promises to entice students to enroll....