Waiting On Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Cost Borrowers Up To 43%, NBER Finds

Waiting On Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Cost Borrowers Up To 43%, NBER Finds

Author: The College Investor August 7, 2026 Duration: 8:12

Borrowers who believed the student loan payment pause would keep getting extended (or that their debt would be forgiven outright) cut their payments, spent more, and are now more likely to be delinquent, according to a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper.

Economists surveyed borrowers about their expectations during the pause and the 2022 forgiveness announcement, then linked those responses to credit bureau, employment, and spending data.

The key finding: policy uncertainty itself changed borrower behavior, and the costs are still showing up in student loan debt statistics today.


Hosted by Robert Farrington, founder of The College Investor and a recognized Millennial Money Expert, The College Investor Audio Show transforms the website's most valuable insights into a daily, conversational format. This podcast directly tackles the financial hurdles unique to a generation, moving beyond theory into practical, actionable strategies. Each episode focuses on the core pillars of modern financial health: systematically eliminating student loan debt, demystifying the fundamentals of investing, and creating actionable paths to increase your income. The goal is clear: to guide you from a place of debt management to one of confident wealth building. You'll hear straightforward advice on navigating repayment plans, understanding where and how to start investing even with limited capital, and exploring side hustles or career moves that make a real difference. It’s a resource for anyone feeling stalled by their loans and eager to lay a solid foundation for their future. Tune in for a no-nonsense take on millennial money, where complex topics are broken down into manageable steps you can apply immediately.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The College Investor Audio Show
Podcast Episodes
Why Elite Colleges Are Racing To Offer Free Tuition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:44
Several of the most selective colleges have adopted generous financial aid policies that provide free tuition to low- and moderate-income students. Depending on the college, the income threshold for free tuition ranges f…
New House Bill Would Make Farm And Ranch Workers Eligible For PSLF [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:10
A bipartisan House bill would add farm and ranch work to the list of jobs eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. H.R. 9974, the Young Farmer Success Act, was introduced by Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) alongside Reps…
Free Community College Pays For Itself, New NBER Study Finds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:34
A new NBER working paper finds that Tennessee Promise, the nation’s first statewide free community college program, increased college enrollment, boosted degree completion, raised early-career earnings, and generated eno…