American Conversations Minisodes: Student Debt

Compact Nation Podcast

This podcast minisode was created for students by students at St. Olaf College as part of the American Conversations project. For more information about these minisodes, check out season 4 episode 14, “American Conversations.” Loan-ly Students: An Exploration of America’s Student Debt Crisis In recent years, the price of a post-secondary education has drastically increased, forcing millions to take out unmanageable loans. Many students have grown uncertain about paying for a college education as national student debt has spiraled out of control. This podcast explores the reasons why student debt has increased so much over the past few decades, analyzes the different debt policies that are being proposed by current 2020 presidential candidates, and offers multiple perspectives on the debt crisis from current college students. Additionally, Carly Eichhorst, the Director of Financial Aid at St. Olaf College, provides insight into the present financial challenges faced by American colleges and universities.