A new study finds more distressed student-loan borrowers are successfully shedding debt through a simplified bankruptcy process, and researchers say the approach could help larger numbers of eligible people. The paper documents higher success rates when borrowers use streamlined procedures and argues the legal path has become a viable relief option for those with insurmountable balances. Legal scholars and financial‑aid officers may need to counsel borrowers on bankruptcy implications and eligibility; policymakers could face renewed pressure to review the interplay between bankruptcy law and federal student‑loan collection practices.