Beyond the Numbers: Humanizing the Student Debt Crisis Through Borrower Narratives

• In Event: Research In Progress Roundtable Session 5
  In Invited Roundtable: Policy Issues in Secondary and Postsecondary Education: Absenteeism, Cell Phones, and Student Debt (Table 14)

Abstract

This study aims to humanize the student debt crisis by exploring borrower narratives from the Student Debt Crisis Center platform. It highlights the emotional, social, and financial burdens faced by student borrowers. Using Becker’s human capital theory, the research examines how students view debt as an investment in their future and the stress they endure when financial expectations fall short. AI-augmented thematic analysis is employed to identify key themes such as emotional distress and confusion over loan terms. Special focus is given to vulnerable groups, including first-generation students and borrowers from for-profit institutions, who encounter greater debt burdens and misconceptions. These findings enhance understanding of the human dimensions of student debt and aim to inform more effective policy interventions.

Author

• Isabela Thebaldi, University of Florida