The United States is in the midst of a student loan crisis, with over 45 million borrowers owing more than $1.6 trillion in federal dollars. On this episode of The Pie, Constantine YannelisAssociate Professor of Finance at Chicago Booth, argues that federal policy is to blame: Decades of regulation and de-regulation have given way to skyrocketing rates of risky borrowing.

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Podcasts episode·Jan 7, 2025

Unlocking Higher Education: Undergraduate Re-Enrollment and Graduate Student Lending

Tess Vigeland and Lesley Turner
Why do so many students leave college before completing their degree, and how can we help them return? Lesley Turner, Associate Professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, discusses results from a mentoring experiment aimed at...
Topics: Higher Education & Workforce Training
Research Briefs·Aug 6, 2024

The Graduation Part II: Graduate School Graduation Rates

Jeffrey T. Denning and Lesley J. Turner
Graduation rates from graduate programs increased from 58% for students entering in 2003-04 to 68% for students entering in 2012-13, with substantial variation across fields of study and institutions.
Topics: Higher Education & Workforce Training
Research Briefs·Jun 4, 2024

What Went Wrong with Federal Student Loans?

Constantine Yannelis and Adam Looney
The increase in aggregate student debt and the struggles of today’s borrowers can be traced to changes in federal policies intended to broaden access to educational opportunities, which increased enrollment and borrowing in higher-risk circumstances.
Topics: Higher Education & Workforce Training