Cazenovia College Borrower Defense 
Legal Trouble That Could Make You Eligible

Why Former Cazenovia Students Should Consider Borrower Defense

If you’re a former Cazenovia College student, here’s what you need to know:

Major Financial Collapse & Closure

• Cazenovia College defaulted on a $25 million bond payment in October 2022, exposing deep financial instability amid declining enrollment and pandemic era pressures. 
• Unable to recover, the college announced closure in December 2022, officially closing by June 30, 2023 after nearly 200 years in operation. 
• In July 2025, local groups attempted to buy the defunct campus at a steep discount—further evidence of its distress. 

These events can form a compelling Borrower Defense claim—if you were harmed by this collapse, you're probably eligible.

Federal Approval of Borrower Defense Claims

In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Education approved Borrower Defense to Repayment claims for over 2,300 former Cazenovia College students. That means thousands already had their loans forgiven due to documented school misconduct.

This wasn’t just about finances—it was about deception.

Lawsuit & Allegations of Deceptive Practices

The ED’s decision stemmed from litigation involving Zovio, the parent company of Cazenovia College. The lawsuit alleged serious misconduct, including:

• High-Pressure Recruitment Tactics: Students were aggressively pushed to enroll using misleading claims.
• False or Misleading Advertising: Cazenovia is accused of overstating job placement rates, misrepresenting program accreditation, and overpromising on career outcomes.

These are textbook examples of borrower defense violations—if you were misled, coerced, or financially harmed, you may qualify for discharge.

You Might Qualify for Automatic Loan Discharge

If you attended Cazenovia College (or Ashford, pre-conversion) between March 1, 2009, and April 30, 2020, you might be eligible for automatic discharge—no application required.

Don’t assume you're out of luck if you didn’t get notified. Many eligible borrowers were never properly contacted.

What You Can Do Now

If you're ready to take action:

• Prefer DIY? Follow our Borrower Defense DIY Guide to handle the process yourself.
• Want to compare with other cases? Check out Latest News on other schools that have similar claims. Link your experience to one of these deep dive articles: 
  • American Intercontinental University Under Fire
  • Sanford-Brown’s Legal Turmoil
  • Lincoln Educational Services Legal Battles
  • University of Phoenix  and Corinthian Colleges  Lawsuits
  • ITT Technical Institute’s Legal Turmoil
  • DeVry Scandals
  • The Legal Legacy of Westwood College
• Curious about all schools? View our Full list of institutions where claims are already being processed.

Don’t Wait—Your Claim Could Be Strong

There’s legal and financial precedent here that strengthens your position:

• Did your financial aid, loan, or academic plans collapse when the school defaulted or closed?
• Did tuition, housing, or fees become non-refundable amid institutional chaos?
• Were you unable to transfer credits or complete your degree because of Cazenovia’s failure?

These are compelling grounds for a Borrower Defense claim.

Take one of two actions now:

• Start your claim immediately using the resources above OR
• Need help? Speak with a specialist now—time may be running out to act.

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