Borrowers can repay their federal student loans through an income-driven system that limits monthly payments to an affordable share of income and forgives unpaid debt after 10, 20, or 25 years of payments. But too many options and bureaucratic hurdles prevent many people from taking advantage of this policy. Other countries, including Australia, automatically enroll borrowers in such a program, making it very difficult for them to default. The United States could implement a similar policy, in addition to improving the details of the program so it works better for both borrowers and taxpayers.
Explore more in Student Debt: Rhetoric and Realities of Higher Education Financing
Sandy Baum 