Last updated: June 11, 2026. These are the standards we hold ourselves to as an independent, student-run news blog covering student loans.
Who we are
The Student Loan Defense is published by first-generation students who report on and explain student loan news, policy, and borrower rights. We are writers and journalists — not lawyers, lenders, loan servicers, or a debt-relief company. We publish news, reporting, analysis, and opinion; we do not give legal or financial advice or represent anyone.
Independence
We are not affiliated with, paid by, or endorsed by any lender, loan servicer, the U.S. Department of Education, or any state agency. We do not accept payment in exchange for coverage. If a page ever contains an affiliate link or sponsored content, that page discloses it plainly at the top.
Sourcing and accuracy
We aim to ground our reporting in primary and official sources — studentaid.gov, the Department of Education, the CFPB, court filings, and agency rules — and to link to them so readers can verify. Student loan rules change often; we note the date on our work and update it as the facts change.
Opinion versus reporting
Some of what we publish is straight reporting; some is analysis and opinion on matters of public concern. We try to make the difference clear. Opinions are our own and are offered in good faith.
Corrections
We take accuracy seriously and we will fix mistakes. If you believe something we published is inaccurate or unfair, contact us with the details. We review every correction request promptly, and when we update an article for a material error we note what changed and when.
Borrower stories and privacy
When we report on borrower experiences, we do not publish a person’s name or identifying details from a private message without permission, and we honor reasonable requests for anonymity or removal. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle information you send us.
A note on our limits
We are a small, independent blog doing our best to make a confusing system clearer for the next first-generation borrower. We are not a substitute for a licensed attorney, a nonprofit counselor, or the official sources themselves. See our full disclaimer.
