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That student-loan debt in the United States exceeds credit-card debt and $1 trillion is sufficient information to give policy-makers and families across the United States pause.
For each national statistic about loan debt, however, is a personal story about a student who is trying to cope with all these financial forces and plan for a lifetime ahead.
Although attention has focused recently on interest rates for student loans, at issue are questions about policies and philosophies that deal with post-secondary education and how to pay for it.
Student-loan debt has quadrupled during the past 10 years, and factors in that increase have included state cuts in higher-education funding that required more revenue from tuition and the Great Recession that brought increased unemployment and reductions in household income.
Debate continues about the respective roles of the federal government and private companies in providing and managing student loans, the appropriate interest rates for student loans and the appropriate state role in funding higher education and providing student financial assistance.
Debate also is focusing on appropriate individual planning for education costs in an uncertain economy.
Higher education long has been viewed as a necessary investment in the future. A college degree would make the recipient more attractive in the labor market and guarantee a higher salary in comparison to those without such degrees.
Reality has not quite worked out that way, particularly with sustained low economic growth and high unemployment rates.
Is a four-year college always the best choice for high school students trying to make decisions for the future and, even if it is, will students actually be able to earn their degrees in just four years?
Other post-secondary choices are available:
--Community colleges allow students to adapt to higher-education requirements at a lower cost and still earn credits that can be transferred to four-year schools.
--High school students can enroll in college classes and earn college credit, which allows them to complete college requirements early.
--Students can participate in tech-prep programs that involve two years of study in high school and two years in a post-secondary institution to earn credentials in a vocational field.
--Online offerings at colleges may allow students to adjust their schedules to accommodate time for work that provides needed income.
Students and their families may not be able to address questions about $1 trillion student-loan debt, but for their own peace of mind they may need to review all of the post-secondary options available to them.