The Real College Debt Crisis : How Student Borrowing Threatens Financial Well-Being and Erodes the American Dream by Melinda Lewis PDF, TXT
9781440836466 English 1440836469 Higher education plays a critical role in the economy and society of the United States, creating a ladder of economic opportunity for American children, especially for those in poverty. Unfortunately, higher education today increasingly reinforces patterns of relative privilege, particularly as students without the benefit of affluent parents rely more and more on student loans to finance college access. This book presents penetrating new information about the fiscal realities of current debt-based college loan system and raises tough questions about the extent to which student loans can be a viable way to facilitating equitable access to higher education for students. The book describes relevant parts of the life story of two students--one who grew up poor had to take on high amounts of student debt, and another who had a different life experience. These real-life examples provide invaluable insight into the student debt problem and helps make the complex data more understandable. A wide range of readers--from scholars of poverty, social policy, and educational equality to policymakers to practitioners in the fields of student financial aid and financial planning will find the information in this text invaluable., Is it still worth it for low-income students to attend college, given the debt incurred? This book provides a new framework for evaluating the financial aid system in America, positing that aid must not only allow access to higher education, but also help students succeed in college and facilitate their financial health post-college. * Reveals the inadequacy of the scope of the current educational and economic policy debates, including moves to funnel low-income children toward two-year degrees, structure alternative debt repayment schedules, and constrain increases in college tuition * Answers the question: "Does the student who goes to college and graduates but has outstanding student debt achieve similar financial outcomes to the student who graduates from college without student debt?" * Examines an important subject of interest to educators, students, and general readers that is related to the larger topics of education, economics, social problems, social policy, public policy, debt, and asset building * Provides empirical evidence and theoretical support for a fundamental shift in U.S. financial aid policy, from debt dependence to asset empowerment, including an explanation of how institutional facilitation makes Children's Savings Accounts potentially potent levers for children's educational attainment and economic well-being, before, during, and after college
9781440836466 English 1440836469 Higher education plays a critical role in the economy and society of the United States, creating a ladder of economic opportunity for American children, especially for those in poverty. Unfortunately, higher education today increasingly reinforces patterns of relative privilege, particularly as students without the benefit of affluent parents rely more and more on student loans to finance college access. This book presents penetrating new information about the fiscal realities of current debt-based college loan system and raises tough questions about the extent to which student loans can be a viable way to facilitating equitable access to higher education for students. The book describes relevant parts of the life story of two students--one who grew up poor had to take on high amounts of student debt, and another who had a different life experience. These real-life examples provide invaluable insight into the student debt problem and helps make the complex data more understandable. A wide range of readers--from scholars of poverty, social policy, and educational equality to policymakers to practitioners in the fields of student financial aid and financial planning will find the information in this text invaluable., Is it still worth it for low-income students to attend college, given the debt incurred? This book provides a new framework for evaluating the financial aid system in America, positing that aid must not only allow access to higher education, but also help students succeed in college and facilitate their financial health post-college. * Reveals the inadequacy of the scope of the current educational and economic policy debates, including moves to funnel low-income children toward two-year degrees, structure alternative debt repayment schedules, and constrain increases in college tuition * Answers the question: "Does the student who goes to college and graduates but has outstanding student debt achieve similar financial outcomes to the student who graduates from college without student debt?" * Examines an important subject of interest to educators, students, and general readers that is related to the larger topics of education, economics, social problems, social policy, public policy, debt, and asset building * Provides empirical evidence and theoretical support for a fundamental shift in U.S. financial aid policy, from debt dependence to asset empowerment, including an explanation of how institutional facilitation makes Children's Savings Accounts potentially potent levers for children's educational attainment and economic well-being, before, during, and after college