We fell short of our Fall Fundraiser goal of 2,500 donations. Help us catch up ⏩ Give Now

Some Americans age 50 and older still paying student loans

Erika Beras May 28, 2019
HTML EMBED:
COPY
René Gademann/Flickr

Some Americans age 50 and older still paying student loans

Erika Beras May 28, 2019
René Gademann/Flickr
HTML EMBED:
COPY

About 20% of the $1.5 trillion in outstanding student debt is owed by Americans age 50 and older. That’s according to a recent report from AARP. Some people accrued that debt to pay for their own education, others helped relatives by co-signing loans. What does this mean for older Americans, who may already face diminished spending power as they age?

Click on the audio player to hear more.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.