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What You Need to Know About Student Loan Forgiveness

Understanding the political, economic, and human implications of the student loan crisis.

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Since the 1980s, the cost of college has increased dramatically—and so has the amount of money many students have to borrow in order to attend. These days, the typical undergraduate student with loans graduates with nearly $25,000 in debt. For young borrowers, the weight of that debt can ultimately change the trajectory of their lives.

In 2022, President Joe Biden announced his long-awaited plan to address the student loan crisis, stating that “an entire generation is now saddled with unsustainable debt in exchange for an attempt, at least, at a college degree.” His program would cancel $10,000 in federal student loan debt for people making less than $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income per year. Students who’ve received Pell Grants—meant for undergraduates who displayed exceptional financial need—would get an additional $10,000 in debt relief.

But the fate of Biden’s debt forgiveness plan—set to impact an estimated 43 million Americans—is currently in limbo. So far, it has been blocked by Republican-appointed judges on lower courts, and this week, the Supreme Court heard two challenges to the president’s historic plan. The court’s decision is expected by the summer.

For now, we’re diving into the impact of student loans on America’s students and how the promise of loan forgiveness can impact how young people view their future.

Dreaming of Student-Debt Relief

Behind the estimated more than $1.7 trillion in student-loan debt in the United States are many people who spent years making payments only to see the amount they owe appear to never budge—or actually increase.

On Student Loan Forgiveness, Conservative Justices Skeptical of Biden Plan

Chief Justice John Roberts and others said Congress should be involved in such an expensive endeavor, and they questioned the loan forgiveness plan’s fairness.

How the Government Cancelled Betty Ann’s Debts

For a ninety-one-year-old law-school graduate, the Department of Education discharged more than three hundred thousand dollars in student debt. Could relief be that simple?

Loans Got Me Into Journalism. Student Debt Pushed Me Out.

A first-generation college graduate made the difficult decision to walk away from journalism, in part, because of the burden of his student loan debt.

How We All Benefit From Student Debt Relief

Four mayors explain that student debt relief will bolster their states economically.

What Biden Can Do if the Supreme Court Strikes Down Student Loan Forgiveness

Three options, some more realistic than others.

Debt Demands a Body

"The future that debt chose for me—indeed the future it chooses for many people—included a lot of shame, confusion, and pain."

As the Supreme Court Weighs in on Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan, Here’s a Look Back at How We Got Here

The Supreme Court will have the final say on President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. And yet, college affordability will remain an issue for years to come.