Student Debt Crisis Center

SDCC is a nonprofit that centers the needs and voices of borrowers to impact public policy and end the student debt crisis.

Campaigns

  • TELL JOE BIDEN: Cancel Student Debt by Executive Action
    COVID-19 has made crushing student debt exponentially worse for Americans -- Over 45 million people have student loan debt and many are struggling to get by during the pandemic. Canceling student debt would ensure that families can afford food, supplies, and medications if they face layoffs or smaller paychecks because of the pandemic. This is a matter of economic survival for millions of people. Student debt threatens the economic security of the entire country -- Before the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s $1.6 trillion student debt total was a major drag on the economy. Now, a pandemic-induced recession and record levels of unemployment are making the problem worse. Debt cancellation would stimulate the economy by boosting GDP by up to $108 billion a year and adding up to 1.5 million jobs per year. Research shows that student debt cancellation will help address inequities and reduce the wealth gap -- Black and brown communities carry a disproportionate student debt burden and are also facing the brunt of the impact of the pandemic. People of color carry more student loan debt, they face higher rates of lost hours and layoffs, and persistent systemic barriers have resulted in racial inequities in incomes and wealth. The pandemic has also caused a disproportionate number of women, and especially Latinx women, to leave the workforce. There is growing energy and bipartisan public support to enact student debt cancellation -- A recent poll showed a majority of voters support canceling student debt during the pandemic. It also found strong support from Democrats and Republicans. On top of that, over 1.3 million Student Debt Crisis supporters already signed a petition to cancel student debt to boost the economy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic since March. Joe Biden campaigned on student debt cancellation, but gridlock in Congress will make it difficult -- The Biden administration must do all that it can to keep that promise. In a recent resolution, Senators Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren made clear that the president has the legal authority to direct the Secretary of Education to cancel student debt based on powers outlined in the Higher Education Act. Since the president has the power to cancel these debts, we urge Joe Biden to use executive action to cancel student debt.
    177,503 of 200,000 Signatures
    Created by Natalia Abrams Picture
  • CONGRESS: Cancel Student Debt to Stimulate the Economy
    The Coronavirus pandemic is a health crisis like we have never seen before, and it is colliding with the economic crisis of this generation - student loan debt. Lost wages and medical costs will impact families across the country for weeks, months, and years to come. Adding the persistent burden of student debt is a recipe for an economic disaster for millions of everyday people. Labor shocks like those the pandemic are likely to cause will undoubtedly increase federal student loan defaults. Borrowers in default on federal student loans face having their tax refunds seized and wages garnished at a time when they can least afford it. We also call on lawmakers to immediately stop these actions that hit distressed borrowers the most. Canceling student debt in response to the Coronavirus crisis will help the 45 million people with student loans and stimulate the economy when it is needed most. It will allow borrowers to purchase the necessities their families depend on: food on their table, a roof over their head, and critical healthcare. In the long term, a student debt cancellation stimulus would help prevent or reduce the impacts of an upcoming recession. Student debt cancellation can boost GDP by up to $108 billion a year and would add up to 1.5 million jobs per year.
    1,310,295 of 1,400,000 Signatures
    Created by Natalia Abrams Picture
  • Tell President Biden: DO NOT restart student loan payments
    Millions of Americans will be thrown back into loan repayment even though we face the persistent impact of the pandemic, growing inflation, and so much more. Before the pandemic struck, people struggled to navigate the broken student loan system wreaking havoc on the financial lives of families across the country. Restarting payments will be a financial disaster, but the President has the power to stop it. Continuing the pause on federal student loan payments is an important investment in Americans' financial lives. It gives people the financial freedom to pay rent or purchase homes, afford healthcare or medicine, start small businesses, and support their families. Without the burden of student debt, Americans weathered the pandemic, and many are thriving. We have added our name to this petition to send President Biden a simple message: DO NOT resume student loan payments.
    85,406 of 100,000 Signatures
    Created by Natalia Abrams Picture
  • Let's Actually Make America Great Again! Forgive All Student Debt & Make Public Colleges FREE
    No 22-year-old should have to enter the real world already in a virtual debtors' prison. 43 MILLION AMERICANS are $1.3 TRILLION in debt because of student loans, and that amount increases by $3,000 every second. This is cruel and no other democracy pays for college like we do. Let's ACTUALLY make America great again!
    100 of 200 Signatures
    Created by StudentDebtCrisis.org Picture
  • Thank you, President Biden... Now, cancel all student debt!
    We applaud President Biden's historic student debt cancellation plan, but we recognize that millions of people will still be burdened by debt. That is why we urge the President to cancel all student debt to ensure borrowers have the financial freedom to invest in their futures, support their families, benefit their communities, and contribute to the economy. President Biden must take the next step and cancel student debt for all. Research shows that debt cancellation is progressive. That means the more that is canceled, the more benefits reach people who need help. On top of that, canceling more debt will further advance efforts to address racial and gender equity issues.
    15,401 of 20,000 Signatures
    Created by Natalia Abrams Picture
  • Want a Real Economic Stimulus and Jobs Plan? Forgive Student Loan Debt!
    For over 30 years, the rich have gotten richer, the poor have gotten poorer, and the middle class is slowly but surely being squeezed out of existence. Instead of more of the same corporate welfare/"trickle-down" economics that have been an abysmal failure for the middle class, why not try a trickle-up approach to rebuilding our economy by targeting relief at those most likely to actually help grow the economy?
    677,156 of 700,000 Signatures
    Created by Robert Applebaum Picture
  • Support Student Loan Forgiveness
    Since 1980, average tuition for a 4-year college education has increased an astounding 800%. Since 1999, average student loan debt has shamefully increased by over 500%! In 2010, total outstanding student loan debt exceeded total outstanding credit card debt in America for the first time ever. In 2012, total outstanding student loan debt exceeded $1 Trillion. Today, we have over 1.3 TRILLION dollars in overall student loan debt and the number is climbing out-of-control. In short, student loan debt has become the fastest growing financial crisis in America. If we do absolutely nothing, the entire economy will eventually come crashing down again- just as it did when the housing bubble popped. This ever-growing crisis has put our country on an unsustainable course towards financial oblivion. As a result of more than 30 years of treating higher education as an individual commodity, rather than a public good and an investment in our collective future, those buried under the weight of their student loan debt are not buying homes or cars, not starting businesses or families, and they're not investing, inventing, innovating or otherwise engaged in any of the economically stimulative activities that we need all Americans to be engaged in. Student loan debt has an undeniable and significant effect on economic growth. Forgiving student loan debt directly addresses this enormous boot on the neck of the middle class. represents a glimmer of hope for millions of Americans who, with each passing day, find that the American Dream is more and more out of reach. Therefore, we, the undersigned, respectfully request that Congress bring forward serious legislation to forgive student loan debt and commit to solving the student debt crisis this year.
    1,212,294 of 1,300,000 Signatures
    Created by Student Debt Crisis Picture
  • Defend Public Education - Vote NO on Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary
    The pressure to stop Trump's billionaire nominee for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, from being confirmed is working. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, just announced that they will oppose DeVos' confirmation. That means that we’re just ONE senator short—and that DeVos could be the first Trump nominee to be rejected by the Senate. But we need to keep up the pressure now more than ever to sway one more Republican and to hold the position of all of the senators who have announced opposition to DeVos. Betsy DeVos—Donald Trump's out-of-touch billionaire pick for secretary of education—is far more interested in dismantling our schools than in investing in them, and in demonizing teachers rather than treating them as allies in educating our children. 1. She has zero experience in public education. Almost all previous education secretaries had career experience in the field of education where they learned the skills necessary to improve schools in our communities. Betsy DeVos has none. 2. She has made no mention of the student debt crisis. She is doesn't know how everyday people are impacted by student loan debt and continues to ignore the trillion dollar problem. In fact, "little is known about her views on federal higher education policy," and she has little to no experience working with families who struggle to afford the rising cost of college. 3. She made her career advocating for taxpayer dollars to be taken away from resource-starved public schools. In fact, she wants to funnel your money into the pockets of private and for-profit education companies through voucher systems and charter schools. Her attacks on public schools and support for privatized education disproportionately impacts people of color and LGBTQ students, meaning less equal opportunities for ALL students nationwide. If you support public education, investing in our local schools, and ending America’s student debt crisis, DEMAND the Senate vote “no” on Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary.
    391,039 of 400,000 Signatures
    Created by StudentDebtCrisis.org Picture
  • Reject Trump's Education Budget
    Trump’s education budget hurts students, borrowers and their families, here's how: ✖︎ ENDS the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program designed to promote the careers that benefit our communities most. ✖︎ CUTS $200 billion from student aid programs over the next decade. ✖︎ ELIMINATES subsidized loans that keep interest costs down. ✖︎ REPLACES all income-driven repayment programs with a new program, created by Trump, that significantly increases costs for graduate students. The Trump-DeVos budget is the final nail in the coffin for current, former and future students. Since Trump appointed Betsy DeVos to lead the Education Department, the two billionaires have unleashed a destructive student loan agenda that harms families across the country.
    63,824 of 75,000 Signatures
    Created by StudentDebtCrisis.org Picture
  • Investigate Betsy DeVos for Civil Rights Violations, Corruption, and Student Loan Abuses.
    Education Secretary Betsy DeVos must be investigated for: CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS - Betsy DeVos ordered the Office of Civil Rights to dismiss thousands of cases that were backlogged and rolled back Title IX rules that have a major impact on women and LGBTQ students. CORRUPTION - Betsy DeVos dismantled the unit that investigates fraud at for-profit colleges just weeks after hiring former for-profit college officials to sit in top positions at the Department of Education. ILLEGALLY DELAYED LOAN FORGIVENESS - Betsy DeVos intentionally delayed debt relief for students defrauded by shutdown for-profit schools. The Inspector General urged the Department to move on a backlog of debt relief claims, but many people are still waiting for their applications to be reviewed. CONFLICT OF INTEREST - Betsy DeVos used the Department to award a multi-million dollar student loan debt collection contract to a private company with financial ties to DeVos. The contract was canceled after growing pressure. Make no mistake, this isn’t the only investigation that matters. The Inspector General has been called to investigate the Education Department for illegally using Americans’ financial data. Auditors are also looking into misuse of tax dollars by Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, Inspectors General are currently investigating at least five cabinet officials for ethics violations. Abuse of power, in any form, cannot be ignored. The Inspector General must perform a thorough review of Betsy DeVos’ internal emails, policy documents, meeting agendas, guest lists, and more. No one is above the law. Now is the time to investigate Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
    11,128 of 15,000 Signatures
    Created by StudentDebtCrisis.org Picture
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