People With Student Loans In America Show How Impossible It Is To Pay Them Off

The Federal Reserve estimates that in quarter two of 2021, Americans owed a startling $1.73 trillion in student loans. Despite a pause on federal student loan interest rates, the number marks a record-breaking amount and it increased 3% compared to quarter two of 2020.

WalletHub has recently compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 11 measures of indebtedness (such as average student debt totals) and earning opportunities (such as unemployment among recent college graduates). They managed to determine which states struggle the most with student debt.

It turned out that West Virginia is the state most impacted by student debt. The data showed that student loan borrowers from there face some of the worst ratios of student debt to income. Moreover, an astounding number of borrowers from the state are behind on their student loan payments. WalletHub data also found that New Hampshire is home to the second-worst student loan holders. The state has the highest average student debt totals and the highest proportion of students who currently have student debt.

A 2020 report by The Institute for College Access and Success estimated that an average student debt total for New Hampshire residents in the college Class of 2019 is roughly $39,410, more than any other state.

The paradox of student loans is that higher education is supposed to improve our quality of life, granting access to high-quality jobs that provide greater stability, higher earnings, and critical benefits like health care and paid leave. This all turns out a distant dream after the student loan leaves many people wondering if it was even worth it.

It’s no secret that student debt has a profound impact on borrowers' lives and well-being. While many are not able to afford their monthly payments, those who make them usually have to make big sacrifices. For example, delaying home ownership, not starting a family and staying in unsatisfactory jobs. 

The burden of debt also takes a severe mental toll on borrowers. A 2021 mental health survey indicated 1 in 14 borrowers experienced suicidal ideation in response to the financial stress of student loans. Among borrowers who were unemployed or making less than $50,000 per year, this rate jumped to 1 in 8.

As of today, the Biden administration has canceled $9.5 billion in student loans for permanently disabled borrowers and those defrauded by for-profit institutions. Experts agree that this is a major step in the right direction; unfortunately, it’s very far from being enough.