Going into debt to get a college degree is not a new phenomenon. What is, however, is what that debt has come to. We’re talking federal student loan debt, and we’re talking one trillion dollars. With tuition costs up and family incomes down, federal and private loans might possibly make up the bulk of a student’s contribution to his or her own education.
A recent report by Politico suggests that it’s become a national crisis, and the figure is indeed staggering. Relief may or may not come for the debt that’s out there, but encouraging current college applicants to go for grants, scholarships, and other alternative forms of funding could keep their debt low to begin with. The stress over how to pay for college is a grey cloud that families often get stuck under—but it doesn’t have to be, especially if we’re all working together to make opting for higher education an easy choice.
