STUDENT LOANS: LESSONS FROM BORROWERS

Abstract

The study presents the results and the analysis of a survey of recent student loan borrowers. The fields of study that result in the highest disbalance between the amount borrowed and the generated earnings are identified. Additionally, the survey results shed light on the post-graduation spending behavior of the borrowers. The results indicate that the present student loan crisis may, at least in part, be caused by the selection of the major area of study and by the post-graduation personal consumption overadjustment of individuals from several (less financially lucrative) fields of study.