Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z & Other Celebrities Who Paid Their Fans' Student Loans

Education is really a big deal! However, college education is quite an expensive thing. For instance, a year in Harvard University can cost a student up to $77,000. So, students whose parents haven’t been saving up money for their college education have to take student loans. Thus, very often these students are paying their huge student debts for a pretty long time after their graduation.

Students in both USA and UK have an option to apply for student loan forgiveness. Previously, the Typical Student team has covered this topic in How to Apply for Student Loan Forgiveness Before Trump Cancels It For Good? Also, IMPORTANT: Student Loan Forgiveness Checklist is a guide for US students to get all the paperwork in order.

Today, we'd like to tell you about those lucky students who managed to pay their student loans by celebrities, or got money for their college education owing to a happy coincidence. Have a look at 9 students lucky to get their student loans paid.

#1 Nicki Minaj’s Contest

A famous singer Nicki Minaj declared in her Twitter that she is ready to pay student loans of those students who have straight A’s. In this way, Minaj paid student loans for about 10 students all over the country.

#2 Taylor Swift's Gift for a Superfan

Rebekah Bortniker, a Taylor Swift superfan,  got the whole box of presents from Swift along with a check for $1,989 to go toward paying off Rebekah’s student loan. Rebekah posted an emotional video on which she opens the box with presents on her YouTube channel.  

#3 Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund

In 2003, Jay-Z created the Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund which offers scholarships and grants up to $2,500 for students with 2.0 GPA or higher. Today the center typically helps students from single-parent families and those who live below the national poverty line.

#4 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, created The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which pays off student loans for more than 1,000 students every year. Basically, the found offers scholarships for American minority students who have outstanding academic achievements in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.

#5 Oprah Winfrey Scholarship Fund

Oprah started her scholarship found at Morehouse College in 1989. Since that time her found helped lots of students all over the world paying off their student loans. Many students from the families with low incomes owe Oprah their chance for having college education.

#6 Eddie Redmayne's Support of Young Actors

Eddie Redmayne, a well-known British actor and Academy Award winner, in his interview for GQ said that he receives letters from fans who ask for financial help. In this way, Redmayne often pays for his fans’ drama school lessons.

#7 LeBron James Family Foundation

LeBron James, a famous basketball player, offers scholarships for students from his native town Akron, Ohio. In particular, James’s scholarship covers all the expenses, including textbooks and equipment, for all four years at the University of Akron. LeBron James Family Foundation helps the students from poor families who cannot afford college education.

#8 Ellen DeGeneres’s Gift

A well-known TV host Ellen DeGeneres in February 2017 gifted the whole senior class four-year scholarships to the New York state colleges on their choice. So, 41 best students had received full ride scholarships.

#9 Student hit by a bus, got her loan paid

This one is just a notable mention we couldn't have overlooked. After being hit by a city bus Sophie Kraft sued the city and used indemnification money to pay her huge student loans. Sophie herself said that she feels happy about this truly horrible accident since it at least helped her to get rid of her debts.