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The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

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Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A large part of the problem is all the shitty for profit schools. They get students to take out large government backed loans, then are defaulting, since they can't actually get a job. I knew several people I grew up with who went to these schools. They took out huge loans, 10k plus, and they never landed any kind of job with their "certificates" / degrees. [1] Half of all defaults are from these kind of schools. [1]…

>[1] Half of all defaults are from these kind of schools. That means half of all defaults are from the "other" kind of school. And the loans from the "other" kind of school are much, much more than 10k +, and many of those students are "never landing any kind of job", too. Sounds like a LARGER part of the problem is "conventional" higher education.

How many people go to real schools, and how many go to fake 'for profit' schools?

And isn't the median student debt something like 25k? Not really "much much more" in my book. Anyone with a real degree should be able to handle that sort of debt.

What we should be doing is allowing lenders to discriminate by major and school. Good school with a good degree? Lend. Good school with a shitty degree? Lend with extreme caution caution. Fake school with any sort of degree? Tell them to kindly fuck off.

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A large part of the problem is all the shitty for profit schools. They get students to take out large government backed loans, then are defaulting, since they can't actually get a job. I knew several people I grew up with who went to these schools. They took out huge loans, 10k plus, and they never landed any kind of job with their "certificates" / degrees. [1] Half of all defaults are from these kind of schools. [1]…

>[1] Half of all defaults are from these kind of schools. That means half of all defaults are from the "other" kind of school. And the loans from the "other" kind of school are much, much more than 10k +, and many of those students are "never landing any kind of job", too. Sounds like a LARGER part of the problem is "conventional" higher education.

What percentage of the issued student loans were taken out by those attending for-profit institutions?

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#83

No, it's not. Not even close, and this is really terrible reporting. It's unfortunate that so many young people are carrying large amounts of student loan debt, but there is no sign of a "bubble" bursting any time soon. I don't even understand how the notion of a "student loan bubble" makes sense, since people don't "speculate" on college like they speculate on real estate. There are so many things wrong with the ide…

I think the notion of "bubble" simply comes from people's understand that the amount of money poured in for something doesn't amount to very much.

For example, say you go to top elite 4-year liberal arts college and receive a degree in gender studies dropping $40k a year. Is that really worth $160k + interest for you? If the perceived value of the degree is substantially lower than expected, you mostly likely wouldn't want to pay back the loan. Consider this sort of scenario for tens of thousands of people. Banks that were expected to get the money back will be left with tons of debters just defaulting on their debt. Principles lost.

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#84

It's really too bad that the laws surrounding student loans make them artificially cheap. You can't get rid of college debt through bankruptcy so you're basically saddled for life. Normally the interest you pay is the combination of three things: 1. The (inherent) time value of money 2. Expenses the lender incurs to keep up with the debt 3. The average default risk of those taking the loans Student loans only price i…

[deleted]

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#85
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really when other types of unsecured debt are wiped out by bankruptcy. Your credit card debt can be erased by chapter 7 bankruptcy even if you used it to fund an awesome vacation that no one can take back.

Yes, but a credit card requires credit. Student loans are specifically crafted to be obtainable by people with no income and no credit.

It is pretty impossible and probably unreasonable to expect your average college freshmen to have a good credit rating.

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#86

No, it's not. Not even close, and this is really terrible reporting. It's unfortunate that so many young people are carrying large amounts of student loan debt, but there is no sign of a "bubble" bursting any time soon. I don't even understand how the notion of a "student loan bubble" makes sense, since people don't "speculate" on college like they speculate on real estate. There are so many things wrong with the ide…

What happens when the repayment power of those that took the loans is crippled by the loans in such a way that they can't fulfill their basic needs? it's gonna happen with a non negligible portion of people

The problem is not the fact that the debt can be wiped, the real concern is that for some people the debt will not be repaid at all and they can't do anything about it. That debt, whether refinanced ( http://www.nbcnews.com/business/obama-signs-student-loan-bil... ) or wiped out, will make banks lose money.

Buckle up.

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#87
post #76
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree 100%. I didn't mean to say the blame rests fully with the current generation, I'm just saying government policies going forward are just going to increase the moral hazard even more.

What "government policies" are you talking about?

[deleted]

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#88

It's really too bad that the laws surrounding student loans make them artificially cheap. You can't get rid of college debt through bankruptcy so you're basically saddled for life. Normally the interest you pay is the combination of three things: 1. The (inherent) time value of money 2. Expenses the lender incurs to keep up with the debt 3. The average default risk of those taking the loans Student loans only price i…

>This excess demand and fixed supply means that colleges can raise prices. If colleges raise prices, won't this make it more attractive/affordable for new colleges to open, thus increasing supply?

This is true for for-profit colleges. But some public and non-elite private colleges risk pricing themselves out of existence - or at least into dire financial straits - if they raise their prices too high and if student loans dry up.

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#89
post #76
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree 100%. I didn't mean to say the blame rests fully with the current generation, I'm just saying government policies going forward are just going to increase the moral hazard even more.

What "government policies" are you talking about?

Off the top of my head, both the interest rate cap that passed this summer and the President's recent student loan proposals? What else would be under discussion here?

EDIT: nevermind, apparently both you and drcode are discussing hypotheticals only.

Re: The Student Loan Bubble is Starting To Burst

#90
post #57

Perfect opportunity for hackers. Employers pay big money to find employees. Students pay big money to get educated to get a job. Hackers roll in with apps that allow students to do courses for free on the smartphone/tablet, sell the info of the students to employers, who then hire the students. Everyone wins. Hackers are proclaimed heros.

So... an online college with a placement department.
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