Is a Kaplan University degree recognized? As a result, the suit estimates, the school overcharged students by more than $28.5 million. Help with Your Student Loans Kaplan University was a distance learning institution that was purchased by Purdue University in 2017. Kaplan University Learning Centers in Maryland, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, and Florida. Over the past several years, there have been several lawsuits and allegations made involving for-profit universities essentially swindling unsuspecting college students out of their tuition money in exchange for a sub-par education that does not meet general academic standards. Because if DeVos successfully eliminates it by defunding it or modifying the law, then your hope for receiving the discharge will be to have your application submitted BEFORE its stripped. Our Victories Helpful Guide To Stop Student Loan Wage Garnishment. Washington, DC 20005 Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aa2505baaedd24a75dcc991b9f1f1bec" );document.getElementById("ad235578ff").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our office can help you determine if you have a valid case against the school. Purdue Global has its own website, featuring all of its academic programs, but Purdue Global programs also appear on the Purdue University Online, Purdue Global backed off of an initial plan to require professors to sign nondisclosure agreements, but it still. The Education Department received more than 400,000 borrower defense claims between 2014 and the end of 2021, according to the latest available data from the department. How To Get Student Loan Forgiveness For Police & Law Enforcement. Legal Advocacy The school was doing so many forbidden things and running such fraudulent business methods that the US Government investigation, lawsuit, and punitive actions essentially forced it into shutting down, which isnt shocking if you think just how bad they were behaving. A class-action lawsuit by fraud victims of for-profit colleges says the Education Department has been assessing their claims far too slowly, with some petitioners still awaiting relief six. Please contact me georgia@payrollandaccounting.net - Interested in a class action suit against Kaplan - have been fighting with them for three years and when I cornered them regardign . Newspaper Editorials Of the dozens of group claims submitted by attorneys general in the past six years, only one has been approved by the department. Thats why how you write your Borrowers Defense application is so valuable. But dont get too excited just yet. The settlement stems from a 2019 class action lawsuit, Sweet v. Cardona, which argued many borrower defense claims for loan cancellation were being ignored by the Department of Education. At that time, Navient and its predecessor, Sallie Mae, were being accused by multiple government agencies of using aggressive tactics to push students into taking out loans they couldnt pay back. In addition, recruiters are reportedly telling prospective students that they can get degrees tailored to them and their experience and that they will have ultimate transferability. However, Purdue Global is not fully integrated with Purdue University, and credits do not necessarily flow freely between the two schools, let alone any other schools. In fact, within the class action lawsuit against Kaplan University, we found out that they were involved in changing grades, enrolling unqualified students, and even counterfeiting legal documents so that their substandard plans would get accreditation. Purdue University and Purdue Global can be easily confused. If you Google around, youll apparently find all kinds of people claiming that they can take your Borrowers Defense applications for you, then provide them to the US Government, but this is not a good approach. The Kaplan University Lawsuit In fact, within the class action lawsuit against Kaplan University, we found out that they were involved in changing grades, enrolling unqualified students, and even counterfeiting legal documents so that their substandard plans would get accreditation. Our Blog If you are aware of a law enforcement action or private lawsuit that is not listed, please email us at [emailprotected], Law Enforcement Actions Against Predatory Colleges, ALL STATE CAREER (see EDUCATION AFFILIATES below), AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY (see CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION below), ARGOSY UNIVERSITY (see DREAM CENTER EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS below), ARIZONA SUMMIT LAW SCHOOL (seee INFILAW HOLDING LLC below), ART INSTITUTE (see DREAM CENTER EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS below), ASHFORD UNIVERSITY (owned by BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION, INC., and then ZOVIO, INC., also owners of UNIVERSITY OF THE ROCKIES), U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE (see DREAM CENTER EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS below), CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION (owner of COLORADO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY and AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY), CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION (CEHE) (STEVENS-HENAGER COLLEGE, COLLEGE AMERICA, INDEPENDENCE UNIVERSITY), Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, CHARLOTTE SCHOOL OF LAW (see INFILAW HOLDING LLC below), COLLEGE AMERICA (see CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION above), COLORADO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (see CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION above), CORINTHIAN COLLEGES (EVEREST, HEALD, WYOTECH) (SOLD OR SHUT DOWN ALL CAMPUSES, DECLARED BANKRUPTCY IN 2015), DENVER COLLEGE OF NURSING (see EDUCATION AFFILIATES below), DRIVE CO CDL LEARNING CENTER (see EDUCATION AFFILIATES below), DREAM CENTER EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS (Formerly EDUCATION MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (EDMC) which sold all schools it did not close to Dream Center in 2018 (ART INSTITUTES, ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE, SOUTH UNIVERSITY), EDUCATION AFFILIATES (owner of ALL STATE CAREER, DENVER COLLEGE OF NURSING, DRIVE CO CDL LEARNING CENTER, FORTIS COLLEGES, FORTIS INSTITUTES, GEORGIA DRIVING ACADEMY, ST. PAULS SCHOOL OF NURSING), EVEREST COLLEGE (see CORINTHIAN COLLEGE above), FORTIS COLLEGES & FORTIS INSTITUTES (see EDUCATION AFFILIATES above), FLORIDA COASTAL SCHOOL OF LAW (see INFILAW HOLDINGS LLC below), GEORGIA DRIVING ACADEMY (see EDUCATION AFFILIATES above), GLOBE UNIVERSITY AND MINNESOTA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, INFILAW HOLDING, LLC (CHARLOTTE SCHOOL OF LAW, FLORIDA COASTAL SCHOOL OF LAW, AND ARIZONA SUMMIT LAW SCHOOL) (CHARLOTTE SCHOOL OF LAW NOW CLOSED), ITT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (owned by ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES) (Closed in 2016), KAPLAN UNIVERSITY (formerly owned by KAPLAN HIGHER EDUCATION, now PURDUE UNIVERSITY GLOBAL), LINCOLN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (owned by LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION), MICROPOWER CAREER INSTITUTE/INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH EDUCATION (IHE), U.S. Department of Homeland Security & U.S. State Department, NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE (NECB), NEW HORIZONS COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER OF SPOKANE, SALTER COLLEGE (owned by PREMIER EDUCATION GROUP), Massachusetts Department of Public Licensure, SOUTH UNIVERSITY (see DREAM CENTER EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS above), ST. PAULS SCHOOL OF NURSING (see EDUCATION AFFILIATES above), STEVENS-HENAGER COLLEGE (see CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION above). The Kaplan University Lawsuit One of the main reasons that Kaplan loans are eligible for the Borrower's Defense program is that the school has been accused of defrauding the US Government to the tune of a whopping $4 billion, which is basically a record when it comes to higher education fraud. (see. If youve already settled loans with Navient or Sallie Mae, you wont get a refund. Contact your student loan servicer to check whether you qualify for debt relief. If you need help with this program one of our financial specialists will be more than happy to assist you. So whats the deal with this Navient loan forgiveness settlement? In this ongoing student loans class action lawsuit, DeVos and the department were found to be in contempt for their "minimal efforts" to comply with a court order halting collections on Corinthian student loan debt. The agencys inaction only fuels the financial insecurity of borrowers who have been through enough turmoil, said Libby DeBlasio Webster, senior counsel at National Student Legal Defense Network, which is representing the Kaplan borrowers along with the Project on Predatory Student Lending and National Consumer Law Center. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. People with student loan debt have the legal right to use an attorney or process federal student loan documentation on their own behalf without paid assistance. Recent Actions and Concerns In March 2018, Purdue University finalized the acquisition of Kaplan University, a for-profit institution offering primarily online education. Reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House, Defrauded borrowers sue over six-year-old student-debt-relief claim. This is NOT aStudent Loan ForgivenessScam, as the Borrowers Defense program was built by the US Government and is managed by the Department of Education. An additional 60,000 borrowers will have their cancellation decisions reviewed individually. The April 29 lawsuit against the country's biggest bar exam and LSAT preparation companies, filed as a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that BAR/BRI and test-preparation company Kaplan, Inc., agreed to illegally dividing the LSAT and bar exam test-preparation market. How do I Know if My Navient Loan Will Be Forgiven? Later this spring, Navient will send the checks automatically. The federal government is constantly seeking alternative ways to help student loan borrowers overcome the struggle of repaying their student loan debt. In a separate development, the Department of Education and a class of student loan borrowers announced a settlement agreement last week in Sweet v. DeVos, a lawsuit brought by borrowers. At least one of your federal loans was eligible for an income-driven repayment plan. (see, 2016 settlement with Massachusetts Department of Public Licensure for $150,000. Their group claim contained more than 2,700 pages of evidence from Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey chronicling aggressive recruiting tactics and falsified job rates, but the claim languished at the department for years. One of the principal reasons that Kaplan University Student Loans are eligible for the Borrowers Defense program is that the school has been involved in defrauding the US Government to a huge $4 billion, which is essentially a record when it comes to higher education scams. B. Kaplan of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for . ET. Do you even qualify for any debt relief? Specifically, Diaz alleged that Kaplan committed the following violations: (1) improperly paying incentive compensation to recruiters and then falsely asserting in a yearly letter that it was in compliance with the ban on recruitment-based incentive compensation; Attorneys Office is investigating Pacific College for potential financial aid fraud. 1501 K Street NW Two for-profit colleges settle lawsuit with attorney general for $2.3 million. Here is what the school has done: Changing grades Enrolling unqualified students Our Press Releases 3729, et seq. (see, 2018 Massachusetts attorney general reaches a settlement with American Military University over allegations that the school failed to make mandated disclosures to students about job placements rates, loan repayment and graduation rates, and engaged in predatory enrollment tactics. So, considering that you qualify for both programs, I would prefer the Closed School program only because it provides a faster resolution. There are two other requirements you need to meet as well: If you meet these conditions, theres a perfect chance that youll be able to obtain student loan forgiveness for your Kaplan University Student Loans. For starters, you need to act fast to claim borrowers defense against repayment. (see, 2019 Owner of Universal K-9, Inc. ordered to forfeit over a million dollars in assets after being convicted of wire fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns in relation to his schedule to defraud the federal government with regards to GI Bill benefits to train service canines. But you may get a $260 check from Navient this spring if: You were enrolled in at least two straight years of forbearances between October 2009 and January 2017. When you apply for discharge, be sure that you highlight particular aspects of what Kaplan College enrollment advertisements, advisors, or other official reports told you to tempt you to take out the student loan. Yet, when state prosecutors have filed claims seeking blanket relief for a group of students, the department has not acted. You must live in a state participating in the settlement. You must have either been you need to have dropped the school no more than 120 days before its closing or still studying at Kaplan at the time it closed to qualify for a Closed School program discharge. Kaplan continues to provide back office support and shares in Purdue Globals revenues. Help with Your Student Loans Nearly 30 percent of students at Kaplan schools defaulted on federal loans within three years of graduating or leaving its schools -- one of the highest default rates of any publicly traded college corporation, according to the Department of Education. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider More than 60,000 additional borrowers may also see their debt cancelled. Kaplan was one of the worst investigated by the GAO, with 69 percent of students in bachelor's degree programs withdrawing, and rising default rates. Did Your School Lie to You? If you attended Kaplan University, Kaplan College, or Kaplan Career Institute, then Ive got some excellent news your Kaplan University student loans are completely eligible to be discharged, meaning that you can have them eliminated without having to spend a single penny! To support our work, we are paid for providing advertising services. An anonymous Brandeis University student filed a class action lawsuit against the university seeking refunds for tuition and room and board for the spring 2020 semester. Did Your School Lie to You? "Walden lured in students with the promise of an affordable degree, then strung them along to . Purdue Global recruiters may be violating a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Defense and bypassing proper procedures for entrance onto military bases. There's no cost to be a part of the class action lawsuit, and borrowers from any listed school qualify. Our Awards, Were in the News Rather than sift through individual applications, consumer advocates say, the agency could clear out a backlog of borrower defense claims by granting group relief. [emailprotected]. We strive to keep our information accurate and up-to-date, but some information may not be current. Betsy DeVos, our Education Secretary, has been trying to drop the Borrowers Defense program completely ever after she was selected by President Donald Trump, who also appears to be against BDARs existence. If Sallie Mae holds your loans, youre out of luck. (see, 2016 ruling by KY Court of Appeals requiring school to pay $157,000 in, 2019 agreement to pay over $120,000 after admitting that New Horizons and its general manager failed to comply with certain VA requirements, resulting in receiving payments from the VA to which they were not entitled. Kaplan, in settling the case, admitted no wrongdoing. X | CLOSE. Eligible schools for the settlement include major for-profit chains like ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges, both of which have collapsed. Kaplan University transferred 14 campuses, 30,000 students, and 2,100 faculty and staff to Purdue Global in exchange for $1. You did not complete all of the program coursework before the closing of the school. The GAO report indicated that Kaplan initiated significant reforms to increase student success, and was working to reduce debt and default rates among students. The idea it works is that it gives an avenue for you to get your loans legally discharged if you can show that they were only taken out because the student loan lender, school, or servicer did something fraudulent that assured you it was a great thought to borrow the money for their program in the first place. Lets look at how that process. Whistleblowers, Find the Right School The closed school discharge program will automatically be applied to loans that were for schools that closed between November 2013 and July 2020. I would like to start off by saying I was into my third term at Kaplan University and decided to withdraw due to the schools incompetent, tenacious and corrupt Financial Aid and Student Accounts Department only to have it . Can you settle student loan debt with Navient? The other 64,000 in the class attended schools not on the list below. The Biden administration is working through a mountain of claims from former students of for-profit schools requesting that the department cancel their debt under a statute known as borrower defense to repayment. Petitions piled up at the department after several colleges folded, and the Trump administration tried to limit and delay loan cancellations. Leadership Team So do not lie on your BDAR application! But theres only one company that I believe to suggest to my readers, and thats the Student Loan Relief Helpline. After graduation, students have a median total debt of $6,143 to $41,912. The qualifications for this program include the following: If you feel you are eligible for this discharge program, you would need to feel out an application. Required fields are marked *. A class-action lawsuit by fraud victims of for-profit colleges says the Education Department has been assessing their claims far too slowly, with some petitioners still awaiting relief six years later. ), Adjusting the grades of those students so that they would pass their programs and remain in the program, allowing Kaplan to maintain collecting student loan benefits (and essentially, Enrolling students who they knew werent qualified for the programs, due to they didnt have the proper educational background, supposedly wasnt going to be able to fulfill program requirements, or something else, to get their student loan money. The main difference between Closed School Discharges and BDAR is that applications for the Borrowers Defense program take quite a bit of time to process, with numerous people reaching waiting over a year even to hear back from the Department of Education. You do not qualify for the Navient student loan settlement if your mailing address on file with Navient as of June 30, 2021, was in one of these states: Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.