A new NEA report, Student Loan Debt Among Educators: A National Crisis, shows that 45 percent of educators have taken out a student loan, with the average total amount standing at $55,800. Black educators took on significantly more debt than other racial and ethnic groups, with an average initial total of $68,300 compared to $54,300 for Whites and $56,400 for Hispanics. “The cost of college imposes a ‘teacher penalty’ on educators, saddling them with a lifetime of debt before they even enter the classroom,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “This illuminating research highlights the urgent need for the Department of Education to immediately forgive all outstanding debt for educators with 10 or more years of experience as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was designed to do.”
My student loan debt is overwhelming and far outlasts my years of working. This is ridiculous that the cost of education is so high that you can’t get it without student loans and then you are a slave to them beyond your years of employment! We are public servants, please free us from this bondage!
I’ve held various positions in Department of Education and had to consolidate my loans at an affordable rate now I don’t qualify for PSLF, but I couldn’t obtain my pedagogy without higher education! This is not fair to any School Employee! Help us as we’ve helped thousands of students throughout our tenure as employees!
We simply have to take all aspects of education finance away from for-profit entities. Education is too important for our collective well-being to be in the hands of organizations that exist for the sole purpose of profit. (The same is true for healthcare.)
I saw a (reliable) documentary about this. Customer service employees were encouraged/incentivized to steer callers into “forebearance” status. The representives’ jobs depended on call volume and that was the quickest way to complete a call. They were NOT told (and frequently discouraged) to disclose/explain the interest repercussions to borrowers.
The overwhelming amount of my student debt accumulated during periods when I was persuing additional education and had my loans in forebearance status while I was enrolled in classes.
I think anyone working in education should have loan forgiveness after 3 years of service and be given funds to continue as our Act48 requires us to continue learning. Not a requirement for the majority of careers out there.
I am the parent of a teacher. My daughter has taught in a city school, and an inner ring suburban school system for over 24 years. She has served the public for years- shouldn’t some of her student debt be forgiven? She has been named an outstanding Math Educator in her school district. We need to encourage the best to continue to educate our children- they are our future.
The current forgiveness plan(s) have insane rules.
I went through a life crisis and, in the process, neglected to reapply for my income-driven repayment plan.
We therefore wound up making over a year of full payments (5 times the amount we paid under the plan).
We then discovered that NONE of those payments “counted” toward the number of payments required to finally reach forgiveness status – because they weren’t paid under a “qualified” plan.
We would be more than a year closer to the forgiveness threshold without this insane rule.
Oh- and we paid the principle amount of the loans AGES ago. The huge outstanding amount is 100% interest.
Wow! I guess I was fortunate to have paid off my debt after I retired. It must be much worse now than it was then.
I am 66 years old and have taught for 22 years. I went to school at night and worked to pay what I could. Education says you must continue to go to classes. I have a Master’s degree now and will never pay this loan of $65,000. I am sick and need to retire.
I have over $190,000 that I paid on for the last 20 years except for when I was laid off and was on forbearance. During that time interest capitalized and my outstanding free higher! No one ever helped me through that, I barely made ends meet. Once I could start making payments again, I did. After 10 years of working in a Title 1 school as a sped teacher I tried to apply for a the forgiveness… I was denied! I have continued to pay. I have been grateful for the last 18 months that we have had a stop pay because I have been able to use that money in other ways to help my family make ends meet. For someone who has worked so hard in life just to be dragged down by this debt is ludicrous, after almost 30 years of making payments and doing the right thing.
As an educator that is still paying student loans 16 years after leaving college to begin my career as a special educator, I would be so appreciative of some relief. Even better for those of us who have shown ourselves to be, not only dedicated to our youth, but as someone who took the contract for student loans very seriously and never missed payments, perhaps all of the loans forgiven would be so appreciated.
The Student debt crisis is a crushing burden to too many people and a deep injustice. It is time to cancel student debt.
Teachers do not get into these fields because they want to become RICH. They get into teaching because they want to enrich the lives of their students. Please look to eliminating our student loans. We need more teachers in our fields The price tag is too high and many young people are walking away from the field.
When my mother died in 2004, her estate allowed me to pay off my student loan. At that point I was in my mid-50s. If someone had not died, I would still be paying that loan off.
There should be a teacher loan forgiveness program for teachers as Bill Clinton did. You had to work in a disadvantaged schools ok for 5 years. Interest should never be more than 3 percent.
PLEASE provide funding and other supports for past, present and future BIPOC higher education ad part of remuneration for generations of racism.
Money, large amounts are directed towards educating kids, Why not forgive the debt of those you have to educate them?
Our President has a wife that is a Teacher and well aware of the debt that Teachers have pilled up in loans. The President is well aware of the debt and at this point seems to be doing NOTHING to help those that are held accountable to teach, educate and prepare students to be leaders and productive citizens. A HUGE responsibility is placed on these “special” people with a “special” call and dedication.
Debit needs to be forgiving for people who have the HIGHER Education, and considered Highly Qualified to teach the subject (s) and work long after regular school hours.
Without a Teacher Mr. President where would you be?
It is a negative for so many and so much-the students, the economy…..
The clause that stipulates an educator must have made payments on their student loans for ten years, before they can even apply for debt forgiveness is ludicrous! 10 years of service is more appropriate.
Agreed… Is it more important to have qualified Teachers or debt which adds to the stress for Teachers? Forgiveness of at least $80,000.00 would be just fine.
Criminals go to jail and complete their time and they are no longer asked to continue paying for their crimes.
Educators put in all years (4-8 years) that it takes to become a teacher and then put in countless hours a day and weekly. Many putting in 60 – 80 hours a week. (x 10 years) They have given back above and beyond in those 10 years. This is why we have such a shortage the demand is too great!
I totally agree with you as we’ve dedicated our lives to educate our future generation, but at the penalty of lifetime payments!
My daughter could not get forgiveness, because I had consolidated her student loans after she graduated to keep her interest rate from rising. She has been teaching in Camden inner city for many years now. Please help her.
Like Nancy Meyers, I am of “retirement age” [68], but cannot afford to retire due to student loan debt with payments of over $500 per month. We need student loans forgiven in order for young families to afford to purchase their own homes and for those of us as elders to be able to enjoy at least a few years of retirement.
Those giving the most to our communities are paying the most. Teachers are the most educated, certificated, and dedicated professions who earn far less than their worth. Many educators needed loans to complete the extensive requirements to serve our communities and ensure the prosperous future of our society, and yet carry the greatest financial burden of any profession. We, as a nation, need loan forgiveness and continued education funding assistance before it’s too late.
First, please forgive $50,000 of student loan debt for all student loan borrowers. Then, remaining student loan balances for educators and other public servants at completion of their 10th year of public service should be forgiven as promised. Young and old borrowers alike have banked on the promise of public service student loan forgiveness that was provided at student loan initiation (work as a public servant at a qualifying institution for 10 years and make any required payments during that 10-year time period — your loans will be forgiven). Most importantly, the ONLY qualifying factor that should be required to be met by educators and other public servants for such student loan forgiveness at this time should be the completion of 10 years of verifiable public service at a qualifying public service institution at the federal, state, or local level.
Please help educators with their student loans. We cannot afford this along with our high cost of health insurance. We do not get paid enough money to make ends meet. It’s a disgrace what is happening to us.
Please cancel all student loans, not just educator’s loans. Young people trying to better their lives by getting college degrees and advanced degrees to give back to society should NOT be saddled with an immense amount of student debt for the rest of their lives! Cancel all student loans now!
My son and his fiancee have student loan debt that will prevent them from purchasing a home, and is having a negative affect on their lives. Please consider forgiving or relieving some student loans.
I went to college from a low income family but not low enough for need based and I had to take out loans. Then every forgiveness program excluded me because of the time of my first loan so none after qualified. When I got my masters I had a teach grant but due to missing a date to not recertification that was converted to an interest loan. Now all my other accounts were certified just “not that one” and you can not go back. I taught special education in low preforming low SES and title One schools for 17 years and now work for the SEA in Special Ed and have been paying on my loans all along the way but I wasn’t on the right program for all the payments to count and never qualified for other programs. Being a single mom when I see my daughter playing school it makes me want to cry because I don’t want her to ever live with the financial stress hovering over her that I have. I can’t save for her future due to trying to repay for my past.
Teachers don’t get the pay they deserve. At least release them from their student debt so we have one less stressor in our lives.
I am an educator, I would like to go up in the salary scale but that means that I need to go back to school, but I can not afford to get more in debt.
Cancel student loan debt!!! Every other profession stems from teaching, which means success was built by teachers. Teachers make a commitment to other people’s children for decades. I have always taught in inner city and title one schools. Poverty is not cured by bankrupting teachers with student loans. I can’t retire until I’m close to dying, because of loan debt. Every month a huge part of my earnings are devoured by student loan debt. There needs to be complete student loan forgiveness for any teacher toughing it out for ten years. In some areas, five years is like surviving a war, so at least forgive part of that debt at five years. Reward teachers for their commitment and perseverance. Cancel student loan debt for teachers.
My daughter went to college, my wife left the teaching profession to be a caregiver for her mom for three years. Parent student loans paid for college.
People make choices and know what they are getting into. To cancel their loans makes them irresponsible citizens. People need to live with in their means.
I worked three jobs through college and paid my loans off. People need to approach college more responsibly. No one is responsible for your debt.
Please forgive educators student loans. I am a High School Counselor and I can’t afford to buy a house due to student loan debt. I have been working in education for over 20 years, Educators deserve this since we are under paid.
I took out a reasonable loan but as life happened and I needed forebearances and additional education for certification, I am now in a position to not ever being able to retire. Please forgive student loan debt for at least $50k for public servants.
Yes! Please help with the student loan debt of educators. I will be partygoers my student Lin’s long after I retire.
I will die before my debt is ever paid off please forgive debt
Please forgive students loans for all staff and educators working at schools!!!
I have been an educator for 13 years. One requirement is ongoing education. During these 13 years, I have gone back for 2 additional degrees and now hold an Ed.S in Educational Leadership. My husband is an assistant principal and has just completed his MA in Educational Leadership and my oldest son is currently earning his BA in Secondary Science Education. Needless to say, we ALL have student loans that we will be paying on for years to come. For my husband and me, it will probably be for the rest of our lives. Is this really the reality we want for our nation’s educators? If we truly want the best educators, there needs to be a change. Either forgive the loans or increase salaries to make the professional more than just a “calling.”
Please forgive federal student loans. Educators do not make nearly enough money. Forgiving educator loans helps make a difference in the known lack of pay compared to similar fields requiring similar educational qualifications. All federal loans for people seeking and or currently working in occupations eligible for PSLF should be eligible for forgiveness.
I’m a Special Education teacher with student loans that are weighing me down. I have a special needs child and 4 other children. My son lives on his own but my other 4 children are still home. My youngest will be in the 5th grade this year. I need help with my student loans. Please forgive student loans especially for the people that are teachers.
I have been struggling with paying back student loans since 1992. Please forgive these educators student loans.
Free college, supported by the public, just like free K-12 education would remove this problem.
Zero interest and “work in disadvantaged settings to pay off college debt programs” would take care of students who already have debt. I worked off my college loans that way in the 1960’s.
I have been teaching for 20 years. I have not been able to pay back the $60,000 in student loans I acquired to become an educator. The interest just keeps accumulating. Now that I’m divorced and a single mother, it’s even harder. I always take care of my responsibilities, but this one is just about impossible. Please help people like me by forgiving student loan debts.
I am a special education teacher who needs help with my student loans.
For many years now, there have not been enough jobs and good paying jobs to neither support the many parents of the children in college much-less hoping that there would be any jobs left at all for students whom graduate; those not finding work and the students that do find work thereby victims of low-paying jobs and saddled down their entire lifetime all because of wanting and willing to work as hard as they possibly could, for a better, and more rewarding life and lifestyle.
Please do this now. Both my children are dedicated, outstanding educators. Remove this burden from their lives. They are young and deserve a chance at a decent living.
Please forgive educators student loan debt.
Please forgive educators’ loans that have displayed commitment to public education by having taught at least ten years.
Yes- put myself through college at age 28 became a teacher- been paying foryears and balance of loans are still at $90k to teach 6th grade at age 54… Student public loan forgiveness seems to be a scam. Told I qualified but only 10 payments counted even though I had been on income based repayment for years- well before 2007. Drive a car w/255k miles because I can’t get out from under these loans…. Will die before I can retire.
Please forgive educators debts for students loans.
I am 43 years old and still paying off my student loans.
Cancel all student debt. People do not need this hanging over their heads.
Many of us carry additional student loan debt as we achieve advanced degrees to benefit our students and communities.
Yes, as teachers we give to our students daily. Please help us by forgiveness of student loan debt.
Please forgive student debt or I will have to work until I die to pay it off.
Please help with the burden of student debt.
I just retired after 29 years in education. I still have student loan debt. Please forgive all educators debt…. Retired or not…. For student loans.
Erase student debt now!
I would love to have help with my student loans. I am a Special Education teacher, single mom and my student loans are weighing me down. Please help.
When I first started teaching 20 years ago I had $60,000 in student loans. I deferred Them for a while as I was not making a lot of money. I now owe $165,000. this is due to the compounding of interest and making a part of the original loan. I am currently signed up for public school loan forgiveness. I still have seven years to go. If that goes away I will never pay these off. This affects so many aspects of my life. I have a hard time getting a loan , credit card, etc. After 20 years I have finally hit jump step at my district And I’m making a bit more money. However, my loan payment will increase. It is horrible, it keeps me up at night. Please help.
I have been struggling with paying back student loans since 1992. Please forgive these educators student loans.
Please, do! Educators should not pay the the highest price for the lowest paying jobs and be still expected to thrive.
Please forgive educators students loans.
My two sons are carrying student debt over their heads, can you please relieve them of some of it?
Please help us with our debt. I returned to school to receive my doctoral degree to improve the lives of myself and my students and I am waited with student loan debt.
Please forgive student loans!
All loans should be forgiven. Biden is who kept us from filing bankruptcy on them, even!
I am 70 years old and still have student loan debt. I have taught 32 years in title one schools. I can’t retire due to this debt that I pay $500. Every single paycheck!! There needs to be student loan forgiveness from our government. Enough of this!!!
Nancy, you must be HIGHLY QUALIFIED in your filed. Debt forgiveness is the way for Teachers.
Just pay the minimum payment. The loan will be erased when you die. The banks carry insurance to cover that. Teachers should receive loan forgiveness for teaching in disadvantaged schools. Check Fafsa website to see if your school qualifies.
Great job Nancy! So sorry to hear of your challenges but celebrate your dedication and career!
My daughter has student loan she has to pay interest on top of the principal. Please we are in need to be student loans forgiveness, not just for educators but for all other graduates who have loan debt of up to $ 68,300.
I am 60 and I don’t believe that I will be able to pay back all my students loans within my lifetime. The amounts are so high since I did not qualify for any scholarships. If we are in a public service industry as teachers building the future of America our loans need to be forgiven.
I am 68 years and have been in the education field for 21 years and student loans are really hurting my pocket and I would like to retire soon, but my loans are still here.
We owe it to our teachers to forgive all loans. We have all put in a lot of our own money to build our students and provide for them. Make the teaching profession an attainable profession for our children.
Please! Please! Please!