Student loan confusion: Who pays and when and how?

By Tom Hall,

Teria Rogers, Malarie Pinkard-Pierre, Sam Bermas-Dawes

Published November 30, 2023 at 12:05 PM EST

A sign reading "cancel student debt" is seen outside the Supreme Court, Friday, June 30, 2023, in Washington. A sharply divided Supreme Court has ruled that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loans for millions of Americans. Conservative justices were in the majority in Friday’s 6-3 decision that effectively killed the $400 billion plan that President Joe Biden announced last year. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) — A sign reading "cancel student debt" is seen outside the Supreme Court, Friday, June 30, 2023, in Washington.

According to the Federal Reserve, over the last decade, the amount of student debt carried by Americans has jumped up 66% to more than $1.77 trillion. Borrowers in Maryland are estimated to have the highest average amount of debt at nearly $40,000 per person.

On October 1, 2023, a three-year hiatus from loan payment due to the pandemic ended. There is great uncertainty surrounding the new rules governing who has to pay and how much they have to pay.

Three guests join the show to help us understand these student loan problems. Washington Post Higher Education Reporter Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, University of the District of Columbia law student Jenaya Moore and Student Loan Justice Founder Alan Collinge.

Washington Post Reporter Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, University of the District of Columbia Law student Jenaya Moore, Student Loan Justice Founder Alan Collinge