Unpacking the Real Cost of College: How Education Loan Debt Shapes Students' Lives

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Allocation Disparities and Their Role in Shaping Educational Outcomes (Table 12)

Abstract

This paper explores the links between student loan debt, student experiences, and post-bachelor's outcomes, highlighting systemic disparities in educational funding. It discusses how declines in state funding, particularly in underserved districts, are influenced by systemic racism and politics, exacerbating poverty. It finds that higher debt burdens, especially for underserved students, affect life choices, employment, and stress levels. The research uses a structural equation model to analyze the impact of gender, race, and dependents on debt stress and life outcomes, emphasizing the need for policies promoting equitable education access and positive post-graduate outcomes.

Author

• Christa A Reid, Eastern Michigan University