In the good debt versus bad debt debate, student loans fall into a gray area. They can be considered good debt because the money you're borrowing to attend school is your ticket to earning a degree and getting hired at a well-paying job. That debt should pay itself off over time with a lucrative career in place.
Millions of Americans are affected by the burden of student loan debt. In the United States, student loan debt is nearing $2 trillion, and Californians carry approximately $150 billion of the debt. Student loan debt is now the second highest consumer market after mortgages.
As of March 2023, about forty-four million U.S. borrowers collectively owed more than $1.6 trillion in federal student loans. Additional private loans bring that total to above $1.7 trillion, surpassing auto loans and credit card debt. Only home mortgage debt, at about $12 trillion, is larger.
As the credit card debt is higher interest and you carry a large balance on it, that debt is usually costing you more than your student loans. “Get that out of the way,” he says. “Pay those balances down [and] find a way to accelerate the repayment of that debt.”
Interest can make student loans more expensive, while inflation can make that debt harder to manage alongside other bills. Paying off some of your debt during your studies could ease the burden later on and save you money on interest.
There are many benefits to paying off your student debt early. You will save on student loan interest and get out of debt faster while improving your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. With a higher DTI ratio and more disposable income, you could pursue other financial goals, such as buying a house or saving for retirement.
They can be considered good debt because the money you're borrowing to attend school is your ticket to earning a degree and getting hired at a well-paying job. That debt should pay itself off over time with a lucrative career in place.
Examples of good debt. Education While student loans can be a financial burden, taking on debt to pay for education is generally considered "good debt" because more education can raise your future income. The typical college graduate earns $579 more per week (or $30,000 a year) than someone with a high school diploma.
Key Takeaways. Carrying student debt can affect your ability to buy a home if your debt-to-income ratio is too high. If you have too much student loan debt, you won't be able to save as much for retirement. Student loan debt can lower your credit score, especially if you fail to make on-time payments.
Unfixed interest rates
While some loans may start out at a reasonable interest rate, predatory lenders don't abide by the same rules as federal loans, which never increase. Some lenders may double or triple the interest rate over the lifespan of the loan, making it nearly impossible to pay off.
Black and African American student borrowers are the most likely to struggle financially due to student loan debt making monthly payments of $250. Asian college graduates are the fastest to repay their loan debt and the most likely to earn a salary that exceeds their student loan debt balance.
Collectively, Americans owe $1.78 trillion in student loans. That's more than we owe for credit cards and cars. Only mortgage debt ranks higher on this measure. The Biden administration calls the student loan situation a crisis.
Data Summary. The average federal student loan payment is about $302 for bachelor's and $208 for associate degree-completers. The average monthly repayment for master's degree-holders is about $688.
Student loans can be another example of “good debt.” Some student loans have lower interest rates compared to other loan types, and the interest may also be tax-deductible. You're financing an education, which can lead to career opportunities and potentially increasing income.
Graduates with debt also cited delaying major milestones or aspirations like starting a business, traveling, getting married, or buying a house. Without the weight of debt, graduates are more willing to take chances on themselves and apply for their dream job or move to a new city.
It's perhaps no surprise, then, that 24% of Americans with student loan debt say it's their biggest financial regret, according to a survey from personal finance site Bankrate.
Many of them are finding that stress, grief and regret are waiting for them at the end of the road. Nearly a quarter of Americans with student loan debt (24 percent) say borrowing too much for their education is their biggest financial regret, according to a Bankrate survey conducted in June.
Patrick Carroll. A new study published by Ramsey Solutions has found that 53% of those who took out student loans to pay for school say they regret doing so. In fact, 43% of borrowers said they regret going to college altogether. “Student loans often lead to a sense of regret and feeling stuck,” the study concludes.
Failing to pay your student loans can have devastating financial consequences. Eventually, your student loans will be put into default and you may lose federal loan benefits, have your wages garnished, get barred from federal student aid among other consequences. Your loan holder may sue you, as well.
Due to COVID-19-related student loan forbearance, the three-year federal student loan default rate in 2023, was technically 0.0%. The student loan default rate has declined since 2020. In 2022, the three-year student loan default rate was 2.3%. From 2016-2020, student loan default rates were around 10-11.5%.
The rise and fall of interest rates are also a logical factor. According to the Federal Reserve, 30-39 year-olds have an average student loan debt of $42,748. 40-49-year-olds possess an average student loan debt of $44,864. Borrowers 24 and younger owe an average of $14,563 in student loan debt.