Student Loan Debt Of The United States - 1746 Words

Introduction Eighty thousand dollars. Also expressed as $80,000. That is a lot of money. Most of us would really like to make that in our annual salaries or would like to win that amount in the lottery. What was bought with this $80,000? Not a car or two, not a house or even a home equity to improve one’s house, and not having a child. This $80,000 is the amount paid for tuition for one’s college degree(s). Compared to other countries, student loan debt in the United States is skyrocketing due to over-inflated tuition costs, dismal grant/scholarships availability and lack of beneficial repayment programs. Body Student loans are becoming an increasingly heavy burden for their borrowers in the United States. In a personal interview conducted on October 20th, 2015, a close personal friend, Cory Hays, and the sister of the author, Melissa Korpela, were interviewed regarding their student loan debts and status of re-payment. Hays has $80,000 in student loans, but cannot pay them back because he was unable to find a position in his field, kinesiology (Hays, 2015). To make ends meet he works as a server and works less than full-time and also has a second job being a caretaker for the building he lives, which provides a small salary and a reduction in his rent (Hays, 2015). As such he is able to be in forbearance until such time that he can get full-time employment (Hays, 2015). Also, the author’s sister has $65,000 in student loans for her bachelor’s level teaching degreeShow MoreRelatedThe Student Loan Debt For The United States1554 Words   |  7 Pages2010 that outstanding stude nt loan in the United States exceeded that of outstanding credit card debt for the first time ever (Kristof, 2012). As of today, there is over $1.2 trillion in outstanding student loan debt, $1 trillion of which is in the form of federal student loans (Denhart, 2013). The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012 was designed to ease some of that burden and mitigate some of the real damage incurred by a lifetime of insurmountable debt. The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012Read MoreStudent Loan Debt Of The United States2295 Words   |  10 PagesStudent loan debt in the United States is expanding unrestricted each year. There are 36 million Americans today, holding over $740 billion dollars in student loan debt. (U.S. 2013) The current student loan system is intended to open doors to economic prosperity for those who could not otherwise afford to go to college. Research suggests that the unintended consequence of too much available student credit is real people losing prosperity and languishing in debt for extended periods of their livesRead MoreStudent Loan Debt Is A Negative Effect On The Future1349 Words   |  6 PagesAfter the United States ‘Great Recession’ in 2008, many onlookers have been searching for other aspects of the economy that may eventually present a bubble similar to that of the housing market. It does not take long to locate a potential hazard as the cost of tuition has risen approximately 26% over the course of the last decade (‘Tuition and Fees’). The consequence of this increased tuition is having a negative effect on the future that most graduates try to obtain once they complete school. SomeRead MoreStudent Debt Is A Form Of Debt1576 Words   |  7 PagesStudent debt is a form of debt that owed by an attending, withdrawn, or graduated student to a lending institution. The lending is often of a student loan, but debts will be owed to the school if the student has dropped classes and withdrawn from the school. Withdrawing from a school, especially if a low or no-income student has withdrawn with a failing grade could deprive the student of the ability of further attendance by disqualifying the student of necessary financial aid. Student loans alsoRead MoreThe Cultural And Global Impact Of College Tuition And Student Loan Debt1442 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cultural and Global Impact of College Tuition and Student Loan Debt Introduction College debt is quickly rising as more students pursue a postsecondary education. Tuition is growing at a rate higher than inflation, thus forcing many students to make up the gap between income and tuition through loans (Houle). However, cultural factors must be considered before a young adult makes a decision about higher education. The type of postsecondary education one pursues, if any, is determined by manyRead MoreA College Student Debt Problem1595 Words   |  7 Pagesdifferent kinds of loans that students can obtain to help them continue their education. Being able to expand their education so easily can come with a hefty price. Students come out of college with student debt up past their ears, and so many students have trouble paying those loans back because of the amount of loans and the number of payments that people have to make can rip their financial future apart. If more students had more options to help them avoid, minimize, and erase college debt this countryRead Mo reEducation : A Way Of A Better Life?1615 Words   |  7 Pagesan education is that it costs money, and one of the main ways to pay for a higher education in the United States is to take out student loans. Although student loans can be helpful in getting an education they can also be very burdening. Even as student debt is being seen as harmful to several individuals, there are people in the world that are benefitting from the acquiring of this unique type of debt. The sad reality that we live in is that not everyone in this world is educated. Though there areRead MoreStudent Loan Debt: Is it worth it?1364 Words   |  6 PagesStudent Loan Debt: Is it worth it?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many high school students are beginning their senior year and have already started to stress about how they will pay for their higher education. Although many students will have scholarships and financial aid, a lot more will struggle to pay for schooling and will have to take out multiple student loans. Many people wonder if higher education is worth the debt the country and the students are in and it is, however, there are alternatives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Read MoreThe Average Cost Of Tuition1684 Words   |  7 Pageswill pay their substantial student loans. While seventy percent of college students are forced to take out student loans there’s no question the majority of graduates will be paying for their education over a long period of their life. Student loan debt is also at an all time high in the United States, with a staggering $1.4 trillion dollars of debt solely for student loans. Current presidential candidates are campaigning to lower college tuition and student loan debt, while others are campaigningRead MoreFinancing For Loan And Debt Crisis1269 Words   |  6 Pagesconsumer debt was $11.52 trillion, and of that, student loans account for $1.08 trillion and that number is growing larger and larger every year (Hiltonsmith, Robert). A large portion of the population undoubtedly feels the burden of these statistics. Seven out of every ten college seniors has reported having t o take out one or multiple student loans so that they can to afford to go to college (Hiltonsmith, Robert). The results of this outstanding amount of debt does not just affect the United States