A new study has revealed that many college students don’t intend to pay off their student loan debt in full.
The survey conducted by EVERFI polled 30,000 students in 45 states. The results of the study are somewhat perplexing; they indicate that a significant portion of college students are already suffering from a form of financial incapability before they’ve even entered the workforce, and many don’t understand how this will affect them in the future.
When asked about whether or not they intended on taking a student loan to pay for school, 60% said they plan on taking one. The problems begin after you start to answer slightly deeper questions. Of the 60% who plan on taking out loans to pay for school, only 65% said they plan on paying them back on time and in full. A similar study conducted seven years ago had revealed that 88% planned on paying their student loan debt on time and in full, indicating a 23% drop in financial sanity during the last 7 years.
Over half of students who took out loans said they were worried about debt. This rate is 58% when you only consider those with $50,000 or more in student loans. The stats aren’t looking amazing when it comes to the way students use their credit cards, either. In general, the study provides more evidence that many college students share a worrying lack of financial knowledge, and it will have negative effects on their personal lives and the broader economy.
