Research Report Student Debt: Who Borrows Most? What Lies Ahead?
Sandy Baum, Martha C. Johnson
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This report describes the levels of cumulative education debt among students with different levels of educational attainment and examines factors associated with high borrowing levels. Those with the most debt tend to be among those who have pursued graduate study. Among undergraduate borrowers, students enrolled in for-profit institutions, those who are independent of their parents, and those who stay in school longer are more likely than others to accumulate large debts. Students from low-income families are not more likely than others to borrow large amounts, at least in part because they tend to stay in school for fewer years.

Research Areas Wealth and financial well-being Children and youth
Tags Asset and debts Schooling Beyond high school: education and training Family credit and debt
Policy Centers Income and Benefits Policy Center Center on Education Data and Policy