City Council supports debt-free education

Student loan debt is a $1.7 Trillion national crisis. Since 2003, the number of student debtors has more than doubled to 44 million indebted. During this week’s Council meeting, the Council adopted a resolution supporting H.1339/S.829, an Act to Guarantee Debt-Free Public Higher Education.

Student debt disproportionately impacts low-income students, students of color, and women. Historic barriers to wealth creation and retention drive families of color into debt-reliance for higher education, resulting in nearly two-thirds of Black borrowers owing more than they originally borrowed as early as 12 years after starting college, compared to less than one-third of white borrowers.

Student debt in Massachusetts is disproportionately a public college problem as public college students graduate with almost equivalent dollars of student debt as private college graduates. While the federal government has the authority to cancel all outstanding debts, state legislatures have the ability to prevent future debts.

An Act to Guarantee Debt-Free Public Higher Education (H.1339/S.829) is a systemic solution to the related crises of college unaffordability and student loan debt, which will guarantee tuition-and-fees free public college and award additional cost-of-living grant money to low-income families to eliminate the need to borrow for housing, transportation, and child care.

The Council offers its support for H.1339/S.829 and continues to elevate the voices of students and families living with the burden of student debt.