Student Debt
INTRODUCTION
This report examines the increasing trends in the amount of debt students are graduating with. The purpose of this report is to prove why these trends need to be stopped, and how they can be stopped. After viewing the statistics from 1993 to the present it will be obvious that student debt is not rising at a steady pace, but that its growth is leading to large financial burdens by many students. Recommendations are given about the actions that can be taken by not only students, but everyone to help improve this dire situation. The changes that student loans have been through over the last couple of years will have a lasting effect on current students, prospective students, parents, and those who have graduated and expect to help their children in college.
The statistics in this report come from various academic programs and programs devoted to improve student debt situations. There are limitations to the survey conducted about the effects student debt has on students. This is due to the limited number of students who were confidentially surveyed at Iowa State University only. A more thou rough study would need to be conducted to further conclude our findings.
To stop the rising debt dilemma a list of activities is given including:
Voicing opinions
Lobbying for legislative acts, increase in grant programs, and lender reform programs
Use of student services
Student responsibilities
Schools responsibilities
BACKGROUND
Student Loan Statistics
In order to understand why changes in student debt areas are necessary, one must understand the changing trends in student loans and credit cards. Since 1993 student debt averages have rose from $9,250 to 19, 200. Accounting for inflation, this is a 58% increase! In 1993 there were fewer than half of the graduating seniors (of 4 year institutions) who carried...
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