Some experts argue it's not a good idea to pay off federal student debt early if a borrower must sacrifice retirement or emergency savings in order to do so.

Roughly 37% of first-time US home buyers have student debt

When those people have extra money, they might wonder: Is it better to pay down my mortgage or my student loans first? This article argues that the answer depends on each loan's interest rate, among other factors.

Should you pay off debt or invest?

Some experts say you should put aside 20% of each paycheck and use that money for future goals, such as saving, investing, and paying off debt. But which should you prioritize first? It all depends on where you are in your financial journey. This article outlines the steps you should take depending on what your finances look like right now. Read it here.

How to balance paying down debt vs. investing

When someone has extra money in their pocket, they're quickly faced with a decision: Is it a better idea to use that money to pay down debt, or invest it? While the answer depends on each individual's financial situation, this video explains which solution works best depending on the circumstances. Watch it here.

Student loans are typically just one part of a college student's overall financial package that will often include other categories as well, such as grants, scholarships, merit-based awards, and more.

Find out ways to get lower rates on private loans, such as applying with a cosigner.

Experts say those receiving year-end bonuses may want to pay down high-interest debt

Experts say other sound options for spending bonuses include topping off an emergency fund or putting more money away for retirement.

Student loan debt isn’t evenly distributed across age groups

Millennials and Gen X borrowers account for more than 70% of outstanding federal student debt ($1.1T). The discrepancy is driven by several factors, including a drop in college enrollment by younger Americans and older cohorts having more years to pay off balances.

Do student loans affect your credit score?

While student loans can impact your credit score, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Repaying the loan on time can strengthen your credit score, whereas paying late can hurt it. To find out more about how student loans can impact your credit score, read this article.

More than half of student loan borrowers owed less than $25K in federally managed student debt as of 2024.

From wage garnishment to a credit score hit, a multitude of consequences can occur if a borrower doesn't repay their student loans.

Student loan forgiveness is a contentious topic

President Joe Biden's plan to forgive up to $20K of student debt per borrower was ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court. But at the center of the debate about his proposal sat one core question that persists today: Is student loan forgiveness fair?

Use this student loan calculator to estimate monthly student loan payments.

More than 3 million student loan borrowers were in default at the end of 2021

More than 3 million student loan borrowers were in default at the end of 2021. While default rates have declined since pandemic-era payment pauses, failing to pay off student debt can still have serious consequences, from a low credit score to the government withholding wages.

Student debt has a widespread economic impact

Student debt is no different than the big rent or car payment that comes out of someone’s paycheck every month: Its presence affects that household’s purchasing power. Multiply that household by the 43 million Americans who had outstanding federal loan debt in September 2023, and student debt’s impact becomes considerable.

Use this federal student loan calculator to estimate your monthly student loan payments and see which repayment option is right for you.

Read about the situations where a high-yield savings account doesn't make sense

While financial experts often recommend high-yield savings accounts, one expert argues that prioritizing adding more money to one doesn't make sense for someone who has a lot of high-interest debt or isn't taking advantage of their company's 401(k) match.

How to get out of debt

This article provides a few helpful tips for getting out of debt, such as learning more about the debt itself and asking for better interest rates. It also explains the popular "debt snowball" and "debt avalanche" methods for getting out of debt. Curious to learn more? Read the full article here.

For everyday Americans, a relatively high national debt can lead to higher interest rates on financial products such as mortgages.

Calculate: Do you need to file for bankruptcy?

About 77% of American households had some debt at the end of 2023. However, when debt becomes crushing, it's time to consider a management plan or a bankruptcy filing. This calculator helps explore whether debt is manageable based on inputs like medical debt, payday loans, and gross annual income.

A study followed a cohort of Black graduates beginning in the 1995–96 school year

While access to higher education led to improved outcomes across minority groups in the US, a significant gap exists in the average amount of debt held and the time it takes to pay back loans. This study found median Black borrowers still owed 95% of the principal two decades later.

Some borrowers end up with higher student loan balances than they started with, even after years of paying, due to 'negative amortization.'

Total student debt has ballooned to $1.7T, up almost 150% since the Great Recession

While the burden falls across roughly 43 million Americans, the debt load itself is not uniform—millennials and those pursuing graduate or professional degrees represent an outsized portion of loans.

Just 7% of student loan borrowers account for 40% of outstanding student loan debt

Most student loan debt went to support graduate studies. Total student loan debt in the US is more than $1.6T. Downloadable tables show the raw data behind federal student aid.

See a comprehensive list of every type of currently available federal student loan, from Direct Subsidized Loans to Parent PLUS loans.

Some economists argue that the national debt is not a critical concern.

While only a quarter of all student loan borrowers attended graduate school, graduate school borrowers account for half of all outstanding student loan debt.

Six bills experts say you shouldn't put on autopay

Autopay has plenty of benefits, such as helping to avoid late fees and streamlining your bill paying process. But some experts say there are a few types of bills that you shouldn't autopay, especially if you're not confident you can pay these bills in full each term. The list includes utility bills and annual subscriptions. Read the full list here.

Some argue that the rising US national debt has become more important in recent months.

Managing too many credit cards can be costly if they have annual fees

However, canceling cards must be strategic if it becomes necessary, as it can negatively impact your credit score. Before canceling, experts suggest asking if it's possible to downgrade to a no-annual-fee version in order to keep the account open, thus preventing potential hits to your credit score.

A 'debt trap' refers to the need for loans or credit to cover the expenses incurred from other debt

Debt traps can be caused by unforeseen expenses or inadequate savings and can be a brutal cycle to break. At the end of 2025, total household debt in the US reached $18.8T, according to data from the Federal Reserve of New York.

Student debt is a trillion-dollar question

Former Purdue University president Mitch Daniels and others discuss the student debt crisis. This episode digs into how we got here, whether college is worth borrowing for, how to address the economic drag of student debt, and whether alternative routes to a four-year degree could be part of the solution.

College majors ranked by median resulting student debt

As of 2023, student loans were the third-largest category of US household debt at $1.6T. But not all student debt is created equal. Statistically, some majors incur more debt than others. Behavioral science majors, for instance, had the highest median student debt as of 2022.

See a chart showing how much the US federal government pays in interest on its debt.

If the US government paid off its debt, it could disrupt the entire bond market, as Treasury bonds are among the most common bonds for investors and the majority of the national debt is in bonds.

Student loans weren't always so prevalent—decades of rising tuition and the 1965 Higher Education Act contributed to their proliferation.

See the growth of US consumer debt

Americans reached an all-time high debt burden in 2024. Data compiled from The Kaplan Group shows the evolution of auto loans, mortgages, credit card debt, and student loans from 2003 to 2023, and finds that after a brief decline after 2008, the total debt burden grew rapidly.

For some debtors without assets that can be sold or returned, filing for bankruptcy can provide a path toward a clean slate

However, the bankruptcy process does not apply to several types of common debt, including money owed toward child support or alimony payments. Most debtors also do not qualify for relief from student loan payments.

Roughly 43 million Americans hold a cumulative $1.6T in federal student debt

About 43 million Americans hold a cumulative $1.6T in federal student debt. That's more than the country's combined credit card balance, according to data from in the first quarter of the year 2024.

'Floating rate' loans periodically adjust their interest rates in accordance with economic conditions

When the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2022 to combat inflation, interest payments borrowers owed to private credit lenders increased accordingly. Private credit funds benefited as loan returns increased, making the asset class attractive to investors at the time.

In 2025, the US credit rating was downgraded over concerns about the debt-to-GDP ratio.

Paying a fee to delay paying back a loan in full is called 'rolling over' the loan

Borrowers sometimes roll over loans when they aren't able to pay back the full principal balance and accrued interest. A rollover extends the amount of time the borrower has to repay the loan, but does not decrease the amount of money the borrower has to pay back.

Borrowers were increasingly defaulting on private credit loans as of early 2026

Risks in private credit investing include the industry's lack of transparency and the ability of businesses to borrow more than a bank might allow against their debt. Some borrowers in early 2026, for instance, likely did not expect interest rates to be so high for so long, which could be contributing to an uptick in defaults.

Why Americans are drowning in credit card debt

Americans owe more than $1T to credit card companies. And with rising interest rates that prevent cardholders from paying down debt (not to mention the rising cost of living), that number is likely to keep growing. A podcast episode explains how the US got here, and what policymakers and individuals can do about it.

A third of Americans don't have the cash they need to cover a $500 emergency, according to a 2023 Federal Reserve survey.

See how student loan debt varies by state, with Washington, DC, having the highest average federal student loan debt in the country at $54,795 per borrower, and North Dakota boasting the nation's lowest average at $29,647 per borrower.

Payday lenders usually require borrowers to post-date a check or provide access to an electronic bank account

If borrowers can't pay back the loan, they can be subject to overdraft fees from their bank and other fees from the payday lender—further exacerbating the debt borrowers face.

Credit cards were the fourth-highest source of US consumer debt as of 2024

US consumer debt nationwide totaled $17.9T as of 2024 Q3. Mortgage debt ranked as number one, with student loan debt coming in at number two.

Payday loans typically have higher interest rates than cash advances

Cash advances and payday loans are both short-term loans that allow borrowers to access cash quickly. Payday loans are much shorter-term, often due in two weeks or by the borrower's next paycheck, and have much higher interest rates.

The Federal Reserve's decisions can impact your money

Car loans, mortgages, business investments—these and more can be drastically impacted by the adjustment of the Federal Reserve’s federal funds rate. Alternatively, savers can earn higher, low-risk yields on their savings when the Fed’s target rate is higher.

Life insurance policies are often recommended for people with financial dependents

If you’re a parent, spouse, business owner, homeowner, or if you hold a lot of debt, you might want to consider life insurance. It can replace a loss of income or pay off debt.