Graduates of the class of 2014 carry an average student loan debt of $28,950, according to the Institute for College Access & Success’s Project on Student Debt. That’s up from last year, and millions of student loan borrowers across the country are feeling that burden.

As part of Here & Now’s series on student debt, host Jeremy Hobson talks with two students: Joelle Stangler, who will graduate next year from the University of Minnesota with $30,000 in debt, and Kristin Bastian, who defaulted on $26,500 in loans before righting her financial course and becoming a financial education counselor. Read more about Kristin’s story here.

Guests

  • Joelle Stangler, senior and student body president at the University of Minnesota. She tweets @PrezStangler.
  • Kristin Bastian, financial education manager at Family Services, Inc.
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate