Contemporary world issues.

Background and history -- Problems, controversies, and solutions -- Perspectives -- Profiles -- Data and documents -- Resources -- Chronology

Part 1 Background and History -- 1958: National Defense Student Loan Program -- 1965: The Higher Education Act-Loan Guarantees -- 1972: Education Amendments -- Ascendance of Student Loans within the Financial Aid System -- Sallie Mae -- 1978: Middle-Income Student Assistance Act -- 1980s: Student Loans Become the Dominant Paradigm in Financial Aid -- Changing Perceptions of Student Loans -- Part 2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions: Following Borrowers, Protecting Creditors -- Defining the "Problem" as One of Repayment Strain Leads to Narrowly Focused "Solutions, -- "Tweaks around the Margins Rather Than Fundamental Reconsiderations -- Information as the Answer -- Putting a Lid on Student Borrowing-Is "Nothing" Better Than Student Debt? -- Channeling Momentum for Good -- Free College? -- How about a Bailout? -- Part 3 Perspectives: Student Debt: How Did We Get Here and Why Should We Worry? / Mark Huelsman -- Student Loans and Bankruptcy in the United States / Rajeev Darolia -- Advice from Our Side of the FAFSA / Scott and Mandy Sponholtz -- Developing a Mind-Set for Paying Off Student Debt / Phil Schuman -- Education: Still Valuable, Just Not Equitable / Melinda Lewis -- The College Conundrum-Does Student Debt Cancel Out the Value of Higher Education? / Aaron Conrad -- Profiles: Researchers -- Journalists -- Research and policy organizations -- Organizations providing resources and relief for borrowers -- Student groups and movements -- Media organizations -- Data and Documents