If you have not looked at the subject in a while, you may be unpleasantly surprised when you learn about the current state of college tuition costs. The College Board has compiled some very meaningful statistics that shed light on the subject. During the 2016-2017 school year, the average annual cost for private college tuition was over $33,000. The average tuition charge for a public university was about $9600 for in-state students, but that figure skyrocketed to almost $25,000 for students from out-of-state who are attending public institutions of higher learning.

The cost of a college education is considerable, but at the same time, the price that you will pay if you go through life without an educational underpinning will probably be much more significant. However, when you digest these tuition figures (and they don’t include living expenses and supplies), you can understand why so many students accumulate significant student loan debt. According to Forbes, the average amount of student loan debt that was being carried by students in 2016 was just over $37,000. Of course, this is the average, so some students owed much more.

Can Bankruptcy Help?

Many students who graduate from college don’t earn enough money to keep their student loan payments current. Plus, there are individuals who are carrying student loan debt who never actually graduated. It would make sense to assume that you could file bankruptcy to wipe away your student loan debt, but in fact, bankruptcy is rarely going to be an option. Student loan debts are not discharged through a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing unless you can prove that paying the debts would create an undue hardship for you. Very few people will be able to convince the court that they are in this position.

Outside of Bankruptcy

There are a few actions that you can consider if you are drowning in a sea of student loan debt. A lender may grant you a deferment or a forbearance that would suspend your payment plan for a temporary, agreed-upon interim. Plus, a number of federal student loan forgiveness programs exist, and this is an avenue that is worthy of exploration.

Schedule a Consultation Today

If you would like us to review your financial situation, including your student loans, we would be glad to provide a free case evaluation. We have offices in many different cities in Oregon including Eugene and Portland, and we also have locations in the state of Washington. To set up an appointment, send us a message through our contact page.