• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
Personal Financestudent loans and debt

Court forgives $6 billion in debt for 200,000 defrauded student loan borrowers

Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 17, 2022, 9:58 AM ET
Miguel Cardona is pictured
The settlement applies to borrowers who submitted a borrower defense to loan repayment application to the federal government before June 22, 2022.Colin Myers—Claflin University/HBCU/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Do you have questions about student loan forgiveness? Please email them to reporter Alicia Adamczyk at alicia.adamczyk@fortune.com.

Approximately 200,000 people who attended schools that defrauded them will have their student loan debts completely wiped, a U.S. district court ruled in a landmark decision Wednesday.

That’s over $6 billion in debt erased for borrowers who are part of Sweet v. Cardona, a class action lawsuit filed in 2019 by borrowers who attended one of the 153 mostly for-profit colleges named in the suit. In addition to the automatic loan cancellation, they will also receive refunds for payments they’ve made and adjustments to their credit scores within one year.

For Michael Spada and his wife, who both attended the now-closed Art Institute of Pittsburgh, that means a fresh start on life, Spada tells Fortune. Combined, the couple has over $110,000 in federal student loans that could now qualify for cancellation, as the school didn’t deliver any of the promises it made when they signed up for classes, such as help with job placement.

“It would literally be a new lease on life,” says Spada, 38. “It would leap us ahead and maybe we would be able to look for a home, or just live our lives.”

They are just two of hundreds of thousands who will benefit. The settlement applies to borrowers who submitted a borrower defense to loan repayment application to the federal government before June 22, 2022. This application allows those who attended schools that misled them or engaged in other predatory behaviors to have their loans discharged.

Some of the schools named in the suit include ITT Technical Institute, Corinthian Colleges, DeVry University, the Art Institute, and many others.

The borrowers filed the suit during former President Donald Trump’s administration, claiming the federal government was delaying or not even processing Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR) applications. The BDR program cancels federal student loans for borrowers who can provide evidence that they were misled by their institution of higher learning about things like admissions criteria or job placement.

In addition to those whose loans will be forgiven automatically, tens of thousands more who filed BDR applications but are not on the approved schools list will be given decisions on their applications within a set timeframe.

The settlement comes as other student loan forgiveness plans by the Biden administration have been put on hold by two other federal judges.

While Julia, who asked that her last name be withheld to protect her privacy, is not part of the settlement class, she says the ruling gives her hope that her borrower defense application will now be approved.

The Pennsylvania resident attended Pittsburgh Technical College, which she says misled her about job prospects upon graduation. She has around $20,000 in loans for an associate’s degree in graphic design that she says is worthless; she has worked at a grocery store since she graduated in 2018. Pittsburgh Technical College declined to comment.

The 27-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, submitted her borrower defense application three years ago; it’s been pending ever since. She says having her debts forgiven would allow her to finally move forward with her life and ease her stress and anxiety. She has also applied for Biden’s widespread student loan forgiveness program as a back up.

“Honestly I am trying not to get my hopes up. If it does go through, it will be the first step of many to take down schools that are ruining peoples lives,” she says. “I’ve spent almost all of my 20s just being stuck in a place where I never thought I’d be. It feels like you’re being trapped and there’s nothing you can do.”

Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.

About the Author
Alicia Adamczyk
By Alicia AdamczykSenior Writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alicia Adamczyk is a former New York City-based senior writer at Fortune, covering personal finance, investing, and retirement.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Personal Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Wealthy man in car
SuccessMillionaires
120 millionaires have signed a letter begging the British government to tax them more: ‘We can afford it’
By Emma BurleighJuly 24, 2026
21 hours ago
Current price of gold as of July 24, 2026
Personal Financegold prices
Current price of gold as of July 24, 2026
By Danny BakstJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 4.50% on July 24, 2026
Personal FinanceSavings accounts
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 4.50% on July 24, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Top CD rates today, July 24, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.45%
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates today, July 24, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.45%
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Top CD rates from major banks July 24, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on July 24, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of Bitcoin for July 24, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for July 24, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
Economy
'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
By Eleanor PringleJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
Big Tech
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
By Sydney LakeJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
Economy
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of silver as of Friday, July 24, 2025
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Friday, July 24, 2025
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.