Student loans make up an increasing share of consumer debt in the U.S., particularly for younger borrowers. Research has shown that borrowers vary greatly in their ability to pay off their loans, and in how quickly they can do so. This Data Point provides a closer look at borrowers' use of...

Many health care professionals are burdened with substantial educational loans when they complete their formal schooling. Physicians and other health care professionals providing care in communities that have shortages of primary-care practitioners, however, are eligible for government loan...

In response to President Obama's 2014 directive the DOE has proposed a new student loan repayment option, labeled the Repay As You Earn Plan (“REPAYE Plan”). The DOE on July 9, 2015 requested comments on their proposed REPAYE Plan rules, and the Plan will probably be open for enrollment in...

The Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan decreases the burden of student loan debt for borrowers with high levels of debt or relatively low incomes. For borrowers with high debt or low income, student loan debt payments are based on income instead of the amount of debt and the interest rate. The...

This report highlights how the payment formulas currently underlying Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) can harm low to middle-income borrowers, forcing them to choose between meeting basic needs and paying their monthly student loan bills. Using a series of hypothetical borrower scenarios, the...