Illinois leads nation in applications for student debt relief

Shabbir Rizvi, 28, of Ukrainian Village, was among the Chicago residents who applied for the program who is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the case. Rizvi owes about $24,000 in student loans for his political science degree from Northern Illinois University. About $10,000 of his debt would be eliminated if the program survives the legal challenge. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times)

The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in a case that could impact more than 1.5 million people in Illinois with student debt. At issue is the legal standing of President Joe Biden’s loan forgiveness program, which would cancel up to $20,000 in debt for borrowers earning less than $125,000 a year.

Before the program got held up in court in November, Illinois residents applied in droves.