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'A Step Forward toward Brighter Opportunities': Learners' Perspectives on Student Loan Borrowing

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Title: 'A Step Forward toward Brighter Opportunities': Learners' Perspectives on Student Loan Borrowing
Language: English
Authors: May Helena Plumb, Trellis Strategies
Source: Online Submission. 2026.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 49
Publication Date: 2026
Intended Audience: Policymakers
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Student Loan Programs, Student Attitudes, Student Financial Aid, Paying for College, Costs, Federal Aid, Tuition, Fees, Housing, Grants, Student Needs, Debt (Financial), Time, Program Effectiveness, Postsecondary Education, Loan Repayment
Abstract: In Fall 2024, Trellis Strategies asked student loan borrowers, "In a few sentences, please explain why you took out student loans." Qualitative analysis of the over 14,000 responses to this survey question provide insights into not only what expenses students cover with loans, but also the financial circumstances that surround their borrowing and their perspective on the college financing process. Alongside additional context from other questions in the Student Financial Wellness Survey, these first-hand accounts paint a complex picture of modern learners who borrow loans to finance their education. This report dives deep into these findings, providing a basis for policymakers, funders, and advocates to better understand the needs and experiences of modern learners.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED681156
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED681156
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PubType: Report
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  Label: Title
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  Data: 'A Step Forward toward Brighter Opportunities': Learners' Perspectives on Student Loan Borrowing
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22May+Helena+Plumb%22">May Helena Plumb</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Trellis+Strategies%22">Trellis Strategies</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Online+Submission%22"><i>Online Submission</i></searchLink>. 2026.
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  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 49
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
– Name: Audience
  Label: Intended Audience
  Group: Audnce
  Data: Policymakers
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  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research
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  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Loan+Programs%22">Student Loan Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Financial+Aid%22">Student Financial Aid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paying+for+College%22">Paying for College</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Costs%22">Costs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Aid%22">Federal Aid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tuition%22">Tuition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fees%22">Fees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Housing%22">Housing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grants%22">Grants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Needs%22">Student Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Debt+%28Financial%29%22">Debt (Financial)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time%22">Time</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loan+Repayment%22">Loan Repayment</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In Fall 2024, Trellis Strategies asked student loan borrowers, "In a few sentences, please explain why you took out student loans." Qualitative analysis of the over 14,000 responses to this survey question provide insights into not only what expenses students cover with loans, but also the financial circumstances that surround their borrowing and their perspective on the college financing process. Alongside additional context from other questions in the Student Financial Wellness Survey, these first-hand accounts paint a complex picture of modern learners who borrow loans to finance their education. This report dives deep into these findings, providing a basis for policymakers, funders, and advocates to better understand the needs and experiences of modern learners.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED681156
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED681156
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 49
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Student Loan Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Financial Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Paying for College
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Costs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tuition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fees
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Housing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Needs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Debt (Financial)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Time
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Postsecondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loan Repayment
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'A Step Forward toward Brighter Opportunities': Learners' Perspectives on Student Loan Borrowing
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Trellis Strategies
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            NameFull: May Helena Plumb
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Online Submission
              Type: main
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