What is the Sallie Mae student loan controversy?

Asked by: Bridie Swaniawski  |  Last update: April 30, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (48 votes)

At the time, the company was accused of steering student borrowers into expensive forbearances instead of more flexible, income-driven repayment plans. The company also faced allegations that its former owner, Sallie Mae, had made subprime private loans to vulnerable borrowers who it knew were likely to default.

What is the Sallie Mae student loan scandal?

In 2014, Navient and its predecessor Sallie Mae paid almost $100 million in restitution and fines after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and U.S. Department of Justice found that the two companies ignored the 6 percent interest cap for servicemembers, unfairly conditioned receipt of Servicemembers Civil Relief ...

Will student loans with Sallie Mae be forgiven?

Those who borrowed from Sallie Mae after this 2014 split have private student loans, which aren't eligible for federal forgiveness programs. However, Sallie Mae will discharge debts for borrowers who die or become totally and permanently disabled.

What are the disadvantages of Sallie Mae?

Cons
  • Relatively high APR.
  • Sallie Mae sets repayment term length.
  • Credit check required.
  • Customer service unavailable on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Late payment fee.
  • No loan preapproval.

What happened to Sallie Mae's loans?

Thus, if you ever had a Sallie Mae loan or had Sallie Mae conduct loan servicing, that loan and servicing, likely, was transferred to Navient. Further, Navient then changed its name in 2021 to Aidvantage. See here.

Expert Reveals Truth About Sallie Mae Loans

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What happens if Sallie Mae's loan goes into default?

Loss of benefits – You'll lose eligibility for deferment, forbearance, interest-only student loan repayment options, interest-rate reduction programs, and cosigner release. Legal action: Sallie Mae or a collection agency may sue you and your cosigner to recover the debt.

Is Sallie Mae backed by the US government?

Sallie Mae is not a federal loan servicer.

When Sallie Mae first formed, it was a government-sponsored enterprise servicing federal student loans — or loans made by the government. But in 2014, it split into two separate companies.

How safe is Sallie Mae?

Sallie Mae is best known as a student loan servicer, but it also has other financial services including credit cards and savings accounts. Deposit products are offered through Sallie Mae Bank, Member FDIC, meaning all accounts are FDIC-insured.

What happens if you don't pay Sallie Mae loans?

Delinquency and default

You may be charged late fees for delinquency, which can add to your Total Loan Cost. You may lose any interest rate reduction programs you were eligible for. Late payments may be reported to consumer reporting agencies and can have a negative impact on your credit report.

How to reduce Sallie Mae student loan payments?

Deferring payments lets you reduce or postpone your payments. When you request a deferment of a Sallie Mae undergraduate student loan, you won't have to make principal and interest payments while you're in school or during your internship, law clerkship, fellowship, or residency.

Which student loans are automatically forgiven?

Any borrower with ED-held loans that have accumulated time in repayment of at least 20 or 25 years will see automatic forgiveness, even if the loans are not currently on an IDR plan. Borrowers with FFELP loans held by commercial lenders or Perkins loans not held by ED can benefit if they consolidate into Direct Loans.

Did Navient take over Sallie Mae?

Navient was created in 2014, when the company then known as Sallie Mae (formally, SLM Corporation), separated its loan servicing and recovery business from its consumer banking business.

How many people regret student loans?

According to a recent Forbes Advisor and Talker Research survey of 2,000 adults, one in three respondents said they regret using student loans to finance their education and would not choose that route again if given the opportunity.

Who took over loans from Sallie Mae?

The new company, Navient, will assume responsibility for servicing the following loans: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans. Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans owned by the Department of Education (the Department)

Why did Navient switch to Mohela?

Navient served as a federal student loans servicer in the past, but it has faced legal allegations of loan mismanagement in recent years. The company stopped servicing most federal student loans in December 2021. In July 2024, Navient began transferring its remaining student loan servicing portfolio to MOHELA.

Why are Sallie Mae loans not forgiven?

Sallie Mae loans, now serviced by private lenders, do not qualify for federal forgiveness programs. Loan forgiveness is generally reserved for federal student loans under specific programs. Private student loans might offer assistance or flexible terms, but typically lack formal forgiveness options.

How do I get rid of my private student loans?

How to get rid of private student debt. One of the few ways to get rid of private student debt is through discharge bankruptcy. It's an arduous — and expensive — process. You'll have to file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, then file an additional lawsuit known as an adversary proceeding.

Is it a crime to not pay student loans?

No, you can't be arrested or put in prison for not making payments on student loan debt. The police won't come after you if you miss a payment. While you can be sued over defaulted student loans, this would be a civil case — not a criminal one. As a result, you don't have to worry about doing any jail time if you lose.

Is a Sallie Mae loan a good idea?

Bankrate's take: Sallie Mae is a great option for those interested in borrowing from a well-established lender with low rates, few fees and a variety of loan options. It is also one of the few lenders that allows borrowers to be part-time students.

What happened to Sallie Mae?

On April 30, 2014, Sallie Mae spun off its loan servicing operation and most of its loan portfolio into a separate, publicly traded entity called Navient Corporation. Navient is the largest servicer of federal student loans and acts as a collector on behalf of the Department of Education.

Can Sallie Mae hurt your credit score?

Typically, prequalifying for a student loan includes a soft credit check, which does not affect your credit score. Thus, if you apply for a loan with Sallie Mae, a hard credit check will be done, which could temporarily hurt your credit score.

What is the new name for Sallie Mae?

Navient Corporation is an American student loan servicer based in Wilmington, Delaware. Managing nearly $300 billion in student loans for more than 12 million debtors, the company was formed in 2014 by the split of Sallie Mae into two distinct entities: Sallie Mae Bank and Navient.

Who actually owns student loan debt?

Student loans in the U.S. are generally either owned by the federal government or financial institutions. The federal government fully guarantees almost all student loans. Some student loans are held by agencies like Sallie Mae or a third-party loan servicing company.

Is Sallie Mae better than FAFSA?

Are Sallie Mae loans better than federal student loans? In general, federal loans are the best first choice for student borrowers. Federal student loans offer numerous benefits that private loans do not.