Publication Date
11-8-2013
Summary
In this study, the authors use the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) to determine whether student loan debt is associated with retirement savings. They find that the median 2009 retirement savings amount for households with no outstanding student loan debt ($55,000) is nearly twice as high as it is for households with outstanding student loan debt ($25,000). Further, multivariate statistics indicate that a household with a four-year college graduate, outstanding student loan debt, and median retirement savings ($80,983) in 2007 incurred a loss of 52% of those retirement savings in 2009 contrasted with household with a similar household with no outstanding student loan debt. The main policy implication of this study is that outstanding student loan debt may jeopardize retirement savings in the short term. This finding raises questions about the short-term financial effects of overreliance on student borrowing as a financial aid strategy. However, more research is needed before suggesting policy prescriptions.
Document Type
Working Paper
Category
Financial Inclusion
Subarea
Asset Building
Original Citation
Elliott, W., III, Grinstein-Weiss, M., & Nam, I. (2013). Student debt and declining retirement savings (CSD Working Paper No. 13-34). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Project
College Success
Keywords
asset accumulation, asset effects, asset holding, asset ownership, assets, college savings, college enrollment, college debt, college degree attainment, college expectations, college savings plan, education, educational expectations, educational outcomes, retirement, United States
Recommended Citation
Elliott, W., III, Grinstein-Weiss, M., & Nam, I. (2013). Student debt and declining retirement savings (CSD Working Paper No. 13-34). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7936/K71C1WDV