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The Importance Of Student Debt In The Higher Education System

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Many experts believe, as college and university enrollments mushroom and tuition rates soar, the crises of student debt in the higher education system will continue to grow. College tuition from 1982 through 2005 exploded 375 percent, nearly four times the inflation rate, and continued to rise four to eight percent every year since. As a college education becomes more unaffordable, many are left searching for other means for paying for a college education such as, federal grant and loan programs as well as private loans. Meanwhile, low income families can expect to receive some aid to help with cost of tuition, it does not always cover all the cost. Consequently, middle income families are usually just outside the aid income range and will usually have to pay the entire cost of tuition themselves. …show more content…

Additionally, repayment requirements for students loans are criticized for being more onerous than mortgage or car loan repayment requirements. Marcia Clemmitt compares, “For example, it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, for students pleading hardship to delay repayment or have loans forgiven through bankruptcy — even though consumer borrowers can declare insolvency and wipe their debt slate clean” (n.pag.). In June of 2010, student debt rose to $830 billion dollars, the first time in history to surpass credit card debt. In the 2010-2011 academic year, student loans surpassed 100 billion dollars, another historical

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