The negative consequences of relying on loans to raise higher education attainment

By Laura W. Perna. The U.S. cannot reach the levels of educational attainment required for international competitiveness in a global, technologically driven economy without closing the considerable gaps in attainment that persist across groups. Gaps in attainment based on family income are among the most vexing. Compared with students from higher-income families, students from low-income families are less likely to enroll in college and, among those who do enroll, are less likely to graduate. One particularly formidable barrier limiting higher-education attainment — especially for low-income students — is the need to rely on loans to pay college costs. Read more...