The significant weight of student loan debt poses a challenge for our nation today. With the outstanding student debt exceeding $1.7 trillion and impacting 45 million individuals, it is evident that decisive measures are required. Secretary Pete Buttigieg holds a position in influencing this discourse as a Democratic figure and potential future contender for the presidency. The importance lies in encouraging him to reconsider his stance and support initiatives such as the cancellation of student debt. During his campaign in 2020 Buttigieg proposed a plan to enhance college affordability by offering debt free public college to 80% of American families (those earning less than $100,000 annually), increasing Pell grants and providing more favorable …show more content…
Progress inherently involves enhancing circumstances beyond what exists. We should not hinder ourselves from doing what's best for our nation simply because some individuals may not directly benefit from it. We all benefit when our friends and neighbors are not burdened with debt. The movement for relieving student debt aims to offer a helping hand to 45 million Americans who are being deprived of a chance at achieving the American Dream. It revolves around fulfilling the commitment of education as a tool for leveling the playing field and promoting mobility. It seeks to unlock the potential of a generation and invest in our future. These principles have been emphasized throughout Pete Buttigieg's career. Now is the time for him to act upon them. The public is calling for solutions to address the student debt crisis. 45 million borrowers are looking to leaders like Pete Buttigieg to acknowledge their challenges and advocate for their futures. Secretary Buttigieg has been known for his ideas and appeals to leadership. By shifting his position in favor of cancellation of student debt, he can respond to the urgency of this moment and bring about significant change for future
In the argument, Debate on Student Loan Debt Doesn’t Go Far Enough, author Robert Applebaum, graduate of Fodham University School of Law, asserts that excessive student loan debt should be forgiven after a reasonable repayment period and suggests this would stimulate the economy because former students would have more money to spend(Debate). He backs up this claim by introducing the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012, contending that education should be a right that people of all classes can benefit from, and addressing both the individual and the economic drawbacks of student debt in the middle and working classes(Debate). Applebaum
Many people would agree that our country’s young adults have and continue to incur a lifetime of debt by enrolling in college. It’s become an almost acceptable understanding that if you plan to attend college, you might as well expect to graduate with an enormous amount of debt. Robin Wilson, a reporter for the “Chronicle of Higher Education,” and author of “A Lifetime of Student Debt? Not Likely” suggests student loans are very real and can be life altering.
In recent years, there has been a tremendous increase in student enrollment in higher education after high school effecting the need for financial aid for all students. Education has become a growing part in America where more students want to better their lives with a college education. However, the cost of college tuition has increased and more students find themselves struggling to pay off the enormous tuition rates. In a recent study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, student debt has reached $1 trillion in federal loan debt. Student loan debt has crippled the economy and students are struggling to pay off federal loans. In order to help students with the high tuition rates of college the government and universities offer
Today in America, “The average Class of 2016 graduate has $37,172 in student loan debt, up six percent from last year. $1.28 trillion in total U.S. student loan debt...44.2 million Americans with student loan debt”(U.S. Student Loan Hero, 1). We spend our lives working, learning, and trying to survive. In order to survive, we need to be educated. In order to be educated, we need money. To collect money, we need a good paying job. And in order to have a job, we need to be educated. It’s a large cycle that goes around in circles, and we can’t seem to find a steady way to help provide these things for everyone. While we all strive to make the best of every situation, money has become an issue, creating problems in many lives around the world. “According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2016–2017 school year was $33,480 at private colleges, $9,650 for state residents at public colleges, and $24,930 for out-of-state residents attending public universities” (COLLEGEdata, 1). And it’s not easy to have a positive look on the American dream when our own president in spouting things like “Sadly, the American Dream is dead” (President Donald
An education is one of the most important tools a person can acquire. It gives them the skills and abilities to obtain a job, earn a wage, and then use that wage to better their lives and the lives of their loved ones. However, due to the seemingly exponential increase in the costs of obtaining a college degree, students are either being driven away entirely from earning a degree or taking out student loans which cripple their financial prospects well after graduation. Without question, the increasing national student loan debt is one of the most pressing economic issues the United States is dealing with, as students who are debt ridden are not able to consume and invest in the economy. Therefore, many politicians and students are calling on the government to forgive their student loan debts so that through their spending the slowly recovering economy can finally return to its pre-2008 strength.
When coming to college your whole money situation changes, suddenly you're bombarded with housing costs and student loans that you have to pay back or you will spiral into debt. Your whole life changes you don't have your parents paying for your voluptuous wants and needs, you’re on your own. The move from high school understudy to college undergrad is a standout amongst the most upsetting and essential times in an adolescent's life. Not only is your day to day life going to change but your spending habits have to change. The school years are a period where a high school student leaves their support team behind,
Any change to the help alleviate the student loan debt crisis, must be a change that will last in the long-term. Many proposals, like the proposal of making college free, wouldn’t be able to support itself in the long-term, because eventually it would run out of funding. If the reform implemented to relieve this problem wasn’t long-term, things would go back to the way they are now, or may even become worse.
Many Americans are seeking an ideal presidential candidate for our next election; furthermore, many college students seek a candidate that has their best interest in mind, leading many to focus on Bernie Sanders and his ideas for an affordable education system. In the article, The Myth of the Student Loan Crisis, Nicole Allan and Derek Thomas focus the article on the risky investments of college and questioning the rising debt levels as a national crisis. While Allan and Davis claim the risk of college and mention rising debt levels as a national crisis; however, Allan and Davis use charts to support their stance while avoiding the issues Americans need to focus on, such as the rising cost of college, “justifiable debt”, and the cost of those not contributing to society.
Imagine stepping into the halls of college, filled with dreams of a promising future, only to be met with the harsh reality of overwhelming student loan debt, as shared by individuals like Philip Rogers and Chloe Peterson. In recent decades, the landscape of higher education in the United States has undergone significant changes. The cost of college tuition has skyrocketed, far outpacing inflation rates. This trend has led to an unprecedented surge in student loan debt, with graduates facing substantial financial burdens upon completing their education. Additionally, job prospects and median salaries have not kept pace with the rising costs of education, exacerbating the challenges faced by recent graduates in repaying their loans and achieving financial stability.
Children of the twenty first century spend nearly 13 years in school, preparing for what is college, one of the only ways to achieve the so-called “American Dream”. College is the best way to start an advanced career and go further than one possibly could if college degrees were not available, allowing people to achieve their view of the American Dream; whether it be large houses, shiny cars, multiple kids, or financial comfort, college is the stepping stone to achieve the American Dream. But all great things come with a price, college dragging along debt. Students who attend college struggle to find ways to pay for it, leading to applying for student loans. These loans a great short term, paying for the schooling at the moment but eventually the money adds up
In an article written by Andrew Lehren, the author provides the bold statement that “the only thing worse than graduating with lots of debt is not going to college at all” (Lehren). In today 's society, many families lack the funds to provide a full ride for their children in terms of college. Due to this fact, many people turn to alternate solutions such as loans or diving straight into the workforce instead of attending college at all. These solutions, however, may greatly affect a person throughout the course of their life. The problem of college debt is increasing rates in regards to tuition, however, fortunately there are various solutions accessible in order to decrease or eliminate the debt that many american students face.
Higher education in America continues to be critical for both individual success and the social and economic health of our country. More students than ever must rely on student loans to pay for a college degree, with the average borrower now graduating with over $26,000 in loan debt. The combination of high student debt and low earnings can lead to default, ruined credit and wage garnishment. The U.S. PIRG Higher Education Project is working to: keep loans affordable, increase grant aid to students, such as the Pell Grant, and lastly, making textbooks affordable.
With the ever-increasing tuition and ever-tighten federal student aid, the number of students relying on student loan to fund a college education hits a historical peak. According to a survey conducted by an independent and nonprofit organization, two-thirds of college seniors graduated with loans in 2010, and each of them carried an average of $25,250 in debt. (Reed et. al., par. 2). My research question will focus on the profound effect of education debt on American college graduates’ lives, and my thesis statement will concentrate on the view that the education policymakers should improve financial aid programs and minimize the risks and adverse consequences of student loan borrowing.
As of 2016, American students have accrued a massive 1.3 trillion in student loan debt. Just 10 years ago, the nation’s balance was only $447 billion (Clements). This ever-present cumulative burden has caused many post graduate Americans to delay important life events such as marriage, homeownership and children because of this substantial encumbrance (Clements). The debt will only continue to grow with neglect, so the most effective action to take would be eliminating the cost altogether.
College is a stressful time for many students across the United States. Over time the prices of college have been increasing at an exponential rate. For students who are not receiving scholarships or financial help from their parents, it would be nearly impossible to attend college without the help of student loans. Without most of our citizens being able to acquire a secondary education the United States will not be able to compete in the global market and citizens will find it nearly impossible to be able to compete in the national market. This is why it is necessary for the U.S. Department of Education to keep our student loans program in the budget proposal.