Student debt guidance
Strategies for assessing debt levels
Assessing debt levels
When considering borrowing money to pay for school, it’s important to think about debt levels based on your college major and the overall cost of college. You’ll want to consider your potential return on investment in terms of future earnings relative to the cost of education. Different college majors can lead to different levels of income, which may influence how much you want to borrow to pay for school.
Here are some steps you can take to evaluate debt levels based on your chosen major:
- Research income potential: investigate the average income or salary associated with careers related to your intended major. Use Career Explorer to see data on salaries for different careers.
- Consider tuition costs: evaluate the cost of education for different majors. Some majors might require expensive equipment, materials, or additional years of study, leading to higher tuition fees. Use Program Explorer to compare tuition costs among colleges offering programs in your chosen field.
- Calculate return on investment: Calculate the return on investment by comparing the expected income from your major to the total cost of education, including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. Consider how long it might take to pay off student loans based on different income levels.
- Assess job market demand: Investigate the job market demand for your chosen major. Some fields have higher demand and better job prospects, making it easier to get well-paying jobs after graduation. Others may have limited opportunities. In Career Explorer, you can search and filter for in-demand careers.
- Factor in loan repayment options: Understand the loan repayment options available for student loans. Some professions might qualify for loan forgiveness programs or employer-sponsored repayment assistance, which can help ease the burden of high debt.
- Consider alternative paths: Explore alternative education routes or majors that align with your interests but have lower tuition costs. This could include community college courses, online programs, or vocational training that offer valuable skills at a lower expense.
Understanding education costs, future income potential, and the job market can help you manage your financial expectations and make informed decisions about your education and student loans.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides this tool that can help you to understand your financial aid offer, estimate how much you’ll owe and if you can afford that debt, and compare offers from different schools
Responsible borrowing
You have a choice about how you pay for your education. It’s important to first research types of financial aid that you won’t need to repay (like grants and scholarships), before considering student loans. If you need more assistance, apply for federal or state student loans before private loans.
While student loans may be a necessary part of financing your degree, it’s important to borrow responsibly. This means only borrowing for what you need. As you make choices in how you finance your education, consider the following tips that can help you borrow responsibly:
- Plan ahead – budget your expenses at the start of every semester and only borrow student loans that you’ll need to pay for school-related costs.
- Make interest-only payments – making payments on your student loans while you’re in school will save money in the long run when you’re repaying your loans.
- Take advantage of tax benefits – explore tax benefits or incentives that are associated with your tuition and/or student loans.
- Estimate the amount of debt you can afford – use a repayment calculator to figure out how much your monthly loan repayments will be once you graduate.