College remains a strong financial investment even after accounting for student loan payments: degree holders earn on average $8,000 more per year than similar non-completers when accounting for debt ($10,400 without accounting for debt).
Still, degree holders are spending a sizeable portion of their increased earnings on student loan payments, and many individuals who take on student debt but do not complete their degrees experience financial hardship.
Policymakers and leaders have options for increasing college affordability and improving college persistence rates.