Includes bibliographical references and index.

pt. 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 -- pt. 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? -- pt. 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.