Offering answers to essential questions about student debt and many connected issues, this book examines student debt in the United States at every stage of the process—from the banks that issue the loans to the colleges and universities that collect the payments.

Student lending in the United States is one of the most controversial issues in contemporary American discourse. Are these loans the only option for Americans who want to attend college and university in order to attain the best careers and have a productive, enjoyable life? Should the predatory lending practices of...