The media routinely report that student loans are a major burden on families and young people. Several presidential candidates have even turned education-related debt into a campaign issue, pushing for across-the-board debt forgiveness.
Is education-related debt really that much of a challenge? How exactly does it impact borrowers? Consider some facts:
Clearly, many people have used debt to finance their college education, which they otherwise may have had to forego. But what are some of the negative consequences of education-related debt? Do borrowers have regrets?
Research shows that most borrowers would have done things differently. According to a survey by Citizens Bank, 74% of “Americans with student loan debt wish they had done more to minimize the burden of their student loans.” A 2019 study in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues, found that “student loan debt is negatively associated with life satisfaction and psychological well-being.”Other studies have come to similar conclusions.
But that’s not all. The burden of education-related debt makes it difficult to plan for the future, including planning for retirement. 84% of those with student loans say they are not saving as much for retirement as they would like, due to their student loans. This should be of concern to policymakers given the demise of defined-benefit plans and low retirement savings rates among younger Americans. Future IMPACT posts will consider ways that employers, policymakers, and life insurers can help.
Andrew Melnyk is Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). He holds a doctorate in economics and is a Certified Business Economist. His functions at ACLI include authoring white papers; managing the production of statistical publications; and managing ACLI’s Research Department. Prior to joining ACLI in 2005, he held positions in academia, government, and the private sector, both in the U.S. and abroad.
