No, Argosy student loans aren’t forgiven automatically; some borrowers can get federal loans erased through discharge and forgiveness rules.
Argosy University shut down in 2019, leaving many borrowers with debt and a messy handoff of records. Relief exists, but it runs through eligibility rules and a small set of forms.
This guide helps you match your situation to the right path, gather proof that fits that path, and file without getting tripped up.
| Relief path | When it fits | Your next move |
|---|---|---|
| Closed school discharge | You were enrolled when your Argosy location closed, or you withdrew close to closure, and you didn’t finish a comparable program elsewhere | File through your federal loan servicer with dates and enrollment proof |
| Borrower defense discharge | You were misled about costs, transfer credits, outcomes, or licensure tied to enrollment | Submit a borrower defense claim with a dated timeline and documents |
| Unpaid refund discharge | You withdrew and the school didn’t return required federal loan funds | Ask your servicer to review withdrawal and billing records |
| False certification discharge | A loan was issued due to identity theft, a forged signature, or invalid eligibility certification | Submit the discharge form with reports and other proof |
| Public Service Loan Forgiveness | You work full-time for a qualifying public employer and have eligible Direct Loans | Certify employment, stay on an eligible plan, track qualifying months |
| Income-driven repayment forgiveness | Your payment is tied to income and you stay enrolled long enough to reach forgiveness | Enroll, recertify income on time, keep payment history clean |
| Total and permanent disability discharge | You meet federal disability standards | Apply with medical or agency documentation |
| Bankruptcy discharge | Rare cases where repayment meets the legal “undue hardship” test | Work with a bankruptcy lawyer and file the court action |
Are Argosy Student Loans Forgiven?
If you’re hoping the balance disappears on its own, the answer is no. Most relief routes require an application, or a clear match to a federal rule that the government can verify.
Three outcomes get mixed together, so it helps to separate them:
- Discharge ends your duty to repay a federal loan under a defined rule, often tied to school closure or school conduct.
- Forgiveness cancels what remains after you meet service or payment rules, like public service work or long-term income-based repayment.
- Refund can follow certain discharges, depending on loan type and payment timing.
Once you pick the right category, the rest is less stressful. You stop chasing rumors and start building a file that fits one program.
What to confirm before you file anything
Do this in one sitting. You’re aiming for clear answers to four questions that show which paths are open.
Loan type and owner
Relief rules hinge on whether your debt is a federal student loan or a private education loan. Federal discharge programs usually don’t apply to private loans, even when the school closed.
Your Argosy dates and campus
Write down the campus or online division, your start date, and your last date of attendance. Note whether you withdrew or were still enrolled when your location closed.
Whether you finished elsewhere
Closed school discharge is meant for students who couldn’t finish because the school shut down. If you transferred into a comparable program at another school through a teach-out or transfer and finished, closed school discharge is often blocked for those Argosy loans.
What you relied on
If you’re leaning toward borrower defense, list the claims you relied on: who said it, where you saw it, when you saw it, and what you did next because you believed it.
Are Argosy student loans forgiven after Argosy closed
The closure can open relief through closed school discharge, but it doesn’t wipe balances for all borrowers who enrolled. Closed school discharge targets federal loans used to attend the program you couldn’t complete due to the closure.
Two rules catch people off guard:
- If you completed your Argosy program, closed school discharge usually doesn’t apply.
- If you transferred credits and completed, or are still completing, a comparable program at another school, closed school discharge is usually not available for those loans.
How to apply for closed school discharge
Your federal loan servicer handles the filing. If you want to preview the questions first, use the official Loan Discharge Application: School Closure PDF.
Keep your answers specific: campus name, program, dates, and what happened after the closure. If you accepted a teach-out, say whether you completed it.
What happens if you’re approved
If you qualify, eligible federal loans tied to that closed program are cancelled. In some cases, payments you already made can be returned. Closed school discharge can also affect credit transfer for a comparable program, so file only when you’re sure you won’t need those credits for a similar credential.
Borrower defense for Argosy loans
Borrower defense is tied to school conduct. It’s built for borrowers who say the school misled them in ways connected to enrollment or loans, and that misconduct caused harm.
Claim types that can fit borrower defense
- Cost claims that didn’t match what you were charged, including fees
- Transfer credit claims that didn’t hold up when you tried to move schools
- Licensure claims that later blocked you from testing or working in the field
- Outcome claims presented as facts, like job placement figures with no grounding
Where to file and what to include
You can submit online through the Department of Education. Use the official page: Apply for Borrower Defense Loan Discharge. Save a copy of what you submit, plus the confirmation number.
Attach your best proof that matches your timeline. One enrollment email, brochure page, catalog excerpt, or screenshot can carry weight when it lines up with your story. Also attach billing records, and any licensure or employer messages that show the harm you’re claiming.
While your claim is pending
You may see forbearance while a borrower defense claim is reviewed. Keep checking statements so you know whether interest is building.
How to avoid delays and sketchy offers
For Argosy borrowers, the slow part is often not the form. It’s the back-and-forth after submission. You can cut that down with a few habits.
- Use only official portals and forms. If a site asks for a fee to file your request, close the tab.
- Keep one folder for screenshots, PDFs, and letters. Name files with dates so you can find them fast.
- When you call a servicer, write down the date, the rep’s name, and what they told you. If advice changes on the next call, you’ll have a record.
- Watch for missed mail. Many denials come from simple nonresponse to a request for more info.
If you move or change email, update your contact details with your servicer right away. That one step can save you months of confusion. Check your spam folder each week, too.
Other federal paths that can still cancel Argosy loans
If closed school discharge and borrower defense don’t fit, standard federal programs can still lead to forgiveness for eligible borrowers.
- Public service forgiveness: eligible Direct Loans plus qualifying public-sector work and enough qualifying months.
- Income-driven repayment forgiveness: stay in an IDR plan long enough, recertify income on time, and keep records.
- Disability discharge: meet the federal standard for total and permanent disability and submit the needed documentation.
Private Argosy loans and paid-off balances
Private education loans don’t follow the federal discharge menu. Start with your promissory note and look for cancellation terms tied to school closure, fraud, or disability. If the contract is silent, your options are lender hardship tools, settlement, refinance, or, in rare cases, bankruptcy.
If you already paid down a chunk of your federal balance, you may still want to file for discharge on the remaining eligible loans. If refunds apply to your discharge type, payment history matters, so keep bank statements and servicer records.
Documents that make applications move faster
You don’t need a mountain of paperwork. You do need a small, clean set that matches your claim.
| Item | Where to get it | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Enrollment agreement | Email, saved PDFs, old portal exports | Proves program name, dates, and terms |
| Catalog pages or brochures | Saved files, screenshots, web archives | Shows claims you relied on |
| Financial aid award letters | Email, portal files, servicer letters | Shows what you accepted and when |
| Billing statements and receipts | Portal billing, bank statements | Links the claim to dollars paid |
| Withdrawal record | Email or registrar messages | Helps with closed school timing |
| Teach-out or transfer record | Acceptance letters and emails | Shows whether you entered a comparable program |
| Licensure or employer messages | Letters, emails, screenshots | Shows harm tied to the claim |
| Your written timeline | A one-page note you create | Keeps your story consistent across forms |
A simple checklist to finish strong
This is the last pass before you hit submit.
- Write your Argosy campus, program, and dates on one page.
- Confirm whether you completed a comparable program elsewhere.
- Pick one primary path to start: closed school discharge or borrower defense.
- Attach proof that matches your story and dates.
- Save a PDF copy of each page you submit, plus the confirmation number.
- Track claim messages in one place and check status on a schedule.
If you’re still asking “are argosy student loans forgiven?” after you’ve done the mapping and gathered your records, zoom in on eligibility details. A small mismatch, like completion status or transfer into a comparable program, can flip an approval into a denial.
When your facts line up with the right program, the process stops feeling random. That’s when “are argosy student loans forgiven?” turns from a rumor into an outcome you can chase with a paper trail.