The student debt crisis in the U.S.

Ever since the housing crisis that triggered the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009, it seems as if every industry has a “next crisis” on the way. However, the student debt crisis may be a top contender for this dubious honor. About 45.5 million Americans owe more than 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars in outstanding student loan debt, which is more than both the value of outstanding credit card debt and the value of outstanding auto loans. The cost of college in the United States has skyrocketed since the 1970s due to high tuition costs, and students are beginning to lose faith in the higher education system. Some predict that the student loan crisis will turn into the next housing bubble, but the effects of 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars of student loan debt on the nation remains to be seen.​