Understanding Student Debt

Student debt is a growing problem in the United States. For many students, attaining a college degree is close to impossible without some form of borrowing money and building student debt. In fact, student loans are nothing short of huge business in the United States – one that some say has reached crisis proportions for those under the age of thirty that are now burdened with repaying that student debt. The numbers are staggering, as aggregate student loan debt now exceeds $1.45 trillion, with this stratospheric figure spread among 44.2 million young Americans.

To further illustrate the gravity of student loan debt levels, aggregate U.S. credit card debt is actually $600 billion lower – and this credit card debt, though onerous, is held by individuals of all ages, many of whom have been gainfully employed for several years. Meanwhile, over 70% of college graduates from the Classes of 2016 and 2017 are beginning their professional lives burdened with average student debt levels exceeding $37,000 that already require an excess of $350 in average monthly payments.

Each year, over eight million students avail themselves of federal student loans through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. This program includes Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, Direct PLUS and Direct Consolidated loans, and these loans comprise over 80% of all federal loans made to students. The most common type of federal student loan is the Stafford loan, and it is paid directly to the student borrower. The Stafford loan typically comes with low interest rates and favorable consolidation repayment options while requiring no credit check or collateral.

Borrowers of subsidized Stafford loans are not responsible for making payments towards their student debt (and any associated interest expense, as the government covers it) until after graduation. These loans are reserved for students from families showing annual household income of under $50,000. Interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans are generally under 4% with a maximum ceiling of $23,000 of borrowings while the student pursues an undergraduate degree. Unsubsidized Stafford loans accrue interest expense and build student debt while the student is enrolled, although the borrower may defer payments (during which interest expense compounds) until after graduation. The annual limit for unsubsidized Stafford loans can be as high as $12,500, with typical interest rates below 4%.

Another type of Federal Student Loan is known as the PLUS loan, which stands for Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students. Parent PLUS loans are disbursed directly to parents funding the undergraduate education of a dependent child, while Grad PLUS loans are disbursed directly to those students pursuing a graduate degree. Unlike Stafford loans, PLUS loans have no maximum amounts allowed but carry higher interest rates exceeding 6%.

Consolidating your student debt make sense for the student borrower seeking the simplicity of one lower monthly payment at one fixed interest rate, as opposed to making higher combined payments to a variety of separate creditors. However, the benefits of these debt consolidation loans come at a price, as they usually extend loan amortization periods considerably – sometimes for as long as thirty years – and can significantly increase total interest expense over the life of the loan. Loan amortization defines a specific schedule of monthly payments designed to pay back the principal on a student loan at a specific interest rate over a given duration of time. Because of accrued interest expense from student debt, it can often take several years of making consistent monthly payments before a significant amount of principal is actually paid down, similar to the case of a home mortgage.

As is the case with any loan, the day will come when student loan debt must be paid back, and some unsubsidized loans require repayment while the student is still enrolled. However, many subsidized and unsubsidized loans include repayment grace periods or offer the option of deferment until graduation. Many students avail themselves of exit counseling prior to graduation, during which they are informed of various student debt repayment options.

With so many recent graduates burdened by significant student loan debt, it should come as little surprise that the current student loan delinquency rate (debtors whose payments are at least ninety days late) resides at a rather robust 11%. Therefore, the amount a student borrows, and at what terms, can have a significant impact upon that individual’s credit profile and lifestyle following graduation. Accordingly, many younger Americans have been forced to delay home ownership, marriage – and even car ownership, as a result.

If you are struggling with timely repayment of high levels of your student loan debt, contact us here at United Settlement to discuss your debt relief options. Getting financial assistance with your student debt is just a phone call away. There are also student loan forgiveness programs available for high levels of student loan debt.