Problems of Higher Education

Just over a year ago, I started college here at NC State University. I am from Virginia, but I am fortunate and privileged enough to attend NC State University as an out-of-state student. However, this is not the case for a lot of people who are trying to get a higher education. The accessibility of higher education is spiraling down as annual charges for higher education continue to increase. In the article, “Student Loans, Health, and Life Satisfaction of US households: Evidence from a Panel Study,” the author discusses how student loan debt in the US continues to rise and how this “may have consequences for multiple aspects of life, including household health and well-being.” It makes sense how people with student loan debt let it affect other parts of their lives, as many decisions in their lives are based on having that debt. Not only does student loan debt affect people after they graduate, but it also affects them while they are completing their degrees. How can a student be completely focused on succeeding in school while feeling the weight of their loan debt continuing to grow? Student loan debt hangs over our heads like a dark storm that follows us long after we graduate. The same article addresses this issue mentioning that ” Higher student loan debt or delinquency may result in individuals being turned down for mortgages, car loans, and other forms of credit, or paying higher interest for loans, not being able to save for retirement, and not being able to achieve financial goals.” Since there is so much pressure for people to obtain a higher education, why have we made higher education almost unattainable for most people?