Student Debt Burden

College student enrollment across the United States has steadily increased over the past decade, with more than 17 million citizens participating in higher education today. The good news is that thousands of newly trained workers are moving our social and economic enterprises forward each year. The bad news is that tens of thousands more students are accumulating record levels of debt. As state and federal support for higher education continues to tighten, students are increasingly picking up the slack. This trend is not slowing down; in fact, student debt has risen significantly over the past decade.

These rising debt levels present important policy implications related to access and affordability. To keep higher education as the primary means of upward mobility and to keep our economy competitive, colleges must remain affordable and accessible to all students. Higher education officials must be aware of the long-term impact borrowing has on students’ futures and students need better information to help them graduate with manageable debt levels.