Student Loan Debt: How it Affects Students and Tips to Help Manage it.

Valezka Avila, John Hancock College Preparatory High School, Junior, Fall 2025

Many high school students look forward to attending college and beginning a new chapter in their lives. However, when applications open, many realize how unprepared they feel for the financial burden of student loans. This pressure leads to anxiety and stress, which can negatively affect academic performance and access to basic needs. According to the Hope Center, students at over 100 American colleges show that almost half of the students (45%) experienced food insecurity in the past 30 days and 17% experienced homelessness in the past year  (National Library of Medicine, 2021). These conditions show how finances can undermine a student’s well-being. 

Personal experiences highlight the emotional weight of debt. Jennifer Velazquez, an English teacher at John Hancock College Prep, faced $8,000 in student debt. “The anxiety came when I would see the mail with the bill, and it was worse when I was still a student.” Debt overwhelms a student's mental health. Data from the National College Health Assessment says that almost a quarter of students (24%) reported that finances negatively impacted performance in a class  (American College Health Association, 2019). This spirals towards depression, anxiety, and drawbacks on big purchases. Abel Montaya, director of outreach operations at ISAC, a state agency that helps students with postsecondary plans, explains, “The most important thing a student can do is make sure they pick a college/program that’s financially doable for the entire length of the program.” He adds that “completing FAFSA and continuing the search for scholarships during college can help immensely with debt. 

There are many ways to deal with student debt: take what you need, reach out for support, understand the loans you are taking out, and ensure the college you pick is financially doable. Dr. Martin Swanbrow Becker, associate professor at Florida State University,  adds, “The main correlation is that they tend to work more ... (feeling) distracted, more anxious, and doing less school work that could help in the long term.” He emphasizes the importance of students finding balance as they manage debt, academics, and their social lives. “In order to pay back loans, it’s important that students can be productive and motivated in their lives. Requiring balance and a realistic plan to pay back loans.” Dr. Becker emphasizes that students remember their education. Student debt can be stressful, hard to manage, and become worse if the appropriate steps aren't taken.