Student loan debt once again hit its highest mark this year. According to the latest statistics, more than 44 million Americans have student loan debt, meaning about one-sixth of Americans 18 years or older have student loan debt. All told, Americans owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loans.
This is a huge problem—and one that’s been at the forefront of public debate over the last several years, as costs and subsequent debt levels have continued to increase.
Democratic presidential candidates have offered ludicrous “solutions” like free college for all or promises that the government will pay off all student loan debt. Not only are these ideas infeasible and would bankrupt our country, but, like most soundbites we’ve heard so far on the campaign trail, they do little to address the root problem facing higher education—and the way our country views higher education.
Soundbites Won’t Solve the Student Loan Crisis
Student loan debt once again hit its highest mark this year. According to the latest statistics, more than 44 million Americans have student loan debt, meaning about one-sixth of Americans 18 years or older have student loan debt. All told, Americans owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loans.
This is a huge problem—and one that’s been at the forefront of public debate over the last several years, as costs and subsequent debt levels have continued to increase.
Democratic presidential candidates have offered ludicrous “solutions” like free college for all or promises that the government will pay off all student loan debt. Not only are these ideas infeasible and would bankrupt our country, but, like most soundbites we’ve heard so far on the campaign trail, they do little to address the root problem facing higher education—and the way our country views higher education.