IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/reihed/v64y2023i1d10.1007_s11162-022-09695-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Nothing to show for it: Financial Distress and Re-Enrollment Aspirations for those with non-degreed debt

Author

Listed:
  • Jason Jabbari

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Mathieu Despard

    (University of North Carolina at Greensboro)

  • Olga Kondratjeva

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Brinda Gupta

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Michal Grinstein-Weiss

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

Abstract

The number of individuals with student loan debt who do not earn their degrees is on the rise; nevertheless, there is little research that demonstrates their current circumstances and future aspirations. We address this knowledge gap by comparing the financial distresses and re-enrollment aspirations of student debt-holders who started college but did not earn a degree—those with non-degreed debt (NDD)—to (a) individuals who have a high school diploma and no student debt, (b) individuals with some college and no student debt, and (c) individuals with a college degree and no student debt, and (d) individuals with a college degree and student debt. Through these “downwards,” “sideways,” and “upwards” comparisons, we are able to provide a 360 degree view of the unique circumstances and outlooks faced by individuals with non-degreed debt. We find that individuals with NDD had greater odds of experiencing material and healthcare hardships, as well as financial difficulties. Individuals with NDD also had greater levels of financial anxiety and lower levels of financial well-being. Despite these challenges, individuals with NDD were often more optimistic about their future college enrollments and earnings. We discuss the implications of these findings with regards to financial aid policies, debt repayment policies, and college retention and re-enrollment efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Jabbari & Mathieu Despard & Olga Kondratjeva & Brinda Gupta & Michal Grinstein-Weiss, 2023. "Nothing to show for it: Financial Distress and Re-Enrollment Aspirations for those with non-degreed debt," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(1), pages 1-32, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reihed:v:64:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11162-022-09695-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11162-022-09695-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11162-022-09695-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11162-022-09695-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cliff A. Robb & Samantha L. Schreiber & Stuart J. Heckman, 2020. "The Role of Federal and Private Student Loans in Homeownership Decisions," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 43-69, March.
    2. Zhan, Min & Xiang, Xiaoling & Elliott, William, 2016. "Education loans and wealth building among young adults," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 67-75.
    3. Ralph Stinebrickner & Todd Stinebrickner, 2008. "The Effect of Credit Constraints on the College Drop-Out Decision: A Direct Approach Using a New Panel Study," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(5), pages 2163-2184, December.
    4. Jeffrey T. Denning & Benjamin M. Marx & Lesley J. Turner, 2019. "ProPelled: The Effects of Grants on Graduation, Earnings, and Welfare," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 193-224, July.
    5. James J. Heckman & John Eric Humphries & Gregory Veramendi, 2018. "Returns to Education: The Causal Effects of Education on Earnings, Health, and Smoking," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 126(S1), pages 197-246.
    6. Jesse Bricker & Jeffrey Thompson, 2016. "Does Education Loan Debt Influence Household Financial Distress? An Assessment Using The 2007–2009 Survey Of Consumer Finances Panel," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 34(4), pages 660-677, October.
    7. Mesmin Destin & Ryan C. Svoboda, 2018. "Costs on the Mind: The Influence of the Financial Burden of College on Academic Performance and Cognitive Functioning," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 59(3), pages 302-324, May.
    8. Looney, Adam & Yannelis, Constantine, 2019. "How useful are default rates? Borrowers with large balances and student loan repayment," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 135-145.
    9. O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), 1999. "Handbook of Labor Economics," Handbook of Labor Economics, Elsevier, edition 1, volume 3, number 3.
    10. Ben Ost & Weixiang Pan & Douglas Webber, 2018. "The Returns to College Persistence for Marginal Students: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from University Dismissal Policies," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 36(3), pages 779-805.
    11. Sandy Baum, 2017. "Student Debt: Rhetoric and Reality," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(2), pages 206-220, April.
    12. Webber, Douglas A., 2017. "Risk-sharing and student loan policy: Consequences for students and institutions," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 1-9.
    13. Philip Oreopoulos & Uros Petronijevic, 2013. "Making College Worth It: A Review of Research on the Returns to Higher Education," NBER Working Papers 19053, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Serge Herzog, 2018. "Financial Aid and College Persistence: Do Student Loans Help or Hurt?," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 59(3), pages 273-301, May.
    15. Mueller, Holger M. & Yannelis, Constantine, 2019. "The rise in student loan defaults," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(1), pages 1-19.
    16. Despard, Mathieu R. & Perantie, Dana & Taylor, Samuel & Grinstein-Weiss, Michal & Friedline, Terri & Raghavan, Ramesh, 2016. "Student debt and hardship: Evidence from a large sample of low- and moderate-income households," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 8-18.
    17. Benjamin L. Castleman & Bridget Terry Long, 2016. "Looking beyond Enrollment: The Causal Effect of Need-Based Grants on College Access, Persistence, and Graduation," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 34(4), pages 1023-1073.
    18. Joshua D. Angrist & Alan B. Keueger, 1991. "Does Compulsory School Attendance Affect Schooling and Earnings?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 106(4), pages 979-1014.
    19. Jinhee Kim & Swarn Chatterjee, 2019. "Student Loans, Health, and Life Satisfaction of US Households: Evidence from a Panel Study," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 36-50, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Robin Henager & Sophia T. Anong & Joyce Serido & Soyeon Shim, 2021. "Does Financial Satisfaction Vary Depending on the Funding Strategy Used to Pay for College?," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 429-448, September.
    2. Jeffrey T. Denning & Todd R. Jones, 2021. "Maxed Out?: The Effect of Larger Student Loan Limits on Borrowing and Education Outcomes," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 56(4), pages 1113-1140.
    3. Jeffrey T. Denning, 2019. "Born under a Lucky Star: Financial Aid, College Completion, Labor Supply, and Credit Constraints," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 54(3), pages 760-784.
    4. Justin C. Ortagus & Melvin J. Tanner & Isaac McFarlin Jr., 2020. "Can Re-Enrollment Campaigns Help Dropouts Return to College? Evidence from Florida Community Colleges," NBER Working Papers 26649, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. French, Eric Baird & O’Dea, Cormac & MacCuish, Jamie, 2021. "The Intergenerational Elasticity of Earnings: Exploring the Mechanisms," CEPR Discussion Papers 15975, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Adam M. Lavecchia & Philip Oreopoulos & Robert S. Brown, 2020. "Long-Run Effects from Comprehensive Student Support: Evidence from Pathways to Education," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 2(2), pages 209-224, June.
    7. Jinhee Kim & Swarn Chatterjee, 2019. "Student Loans, Health, and Life Satisfaction of US Households: Evidence from a Panel Study," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 36-50, March.
    8. Philip Oreopoulos, 2021. "What Limits College Success? A Review and Further Analysis of Holzer and Baum's Making College Work," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 59(2), pages 546-573, June.
    9. Mark Colas & Sebastian Findeisen & Dominik Sachs, 2021. "Optimal Need-Based Financial Aid," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(2), pages 492-533.
    10. Chu, Yu-Wei Luke & Cuffe, Harold E, 2020. "Do Struggling Students Benefit From Continued Student Loan Access? Evidence From University and Beyond," Working Paper Series 21067, Victoria University of Wellington, School of Economics and Finance.
    11. Findeisen, Sebastian & Sachs, Dominik, 2015. "Designing efficient college and tax policies," Working Papers 15-09, University of Mannheim, Department of Economics.
    12. Solis, Alex, 2019. "Measuring the Effect of Student Loans on the College Dropout Rate," Working Paper Series 2019:8, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    13. Almeida, André & Figueiredo, Hugo & Cerejeira, João & Portela, Miguel & Sá, Carla & Teixeira, Pedro, 2017. "Returns to Postgraduate Education in Portugal: Holding on to a Higher Ground?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 44, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    14. Matsuda, Kazushige, 2020. "Optimal timing of college subsidies: Enrollment, graduation, and the skill premium," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    15. James J. Heckman & John Eric Humphries & Gregory Veramendi, 2018. "Returns to Education: The Causal Effects of Education on Earnings, Health, and Smoking," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 126(S1), pages 197-246.
    16. Stanislav Avdeev, 2020. "Zero Returns To Higher Education: Evidence From A Natural Experiment," HSE Working papers WP BRP 236/EC/2020, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    17. Goodman, Sarena & Isen, Adam & Yannelis, Constantine, 2021. "A day late and a dollar short: Liquidity and household formation among student borrowers," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(3), pages 1301-1323.
    18. David Card & Alex Solis, 2022. "Measuring the Effect of Student Loans on College Persistence," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 17(2), pages 335-366, Spring.
    19. Francesca Modena & Giulia Martina Tanzi & Enrico Rettore, 2018. "The effect of grants on university drop-out rates: evidence on the Italian case," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1193, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    20. Sandra E. Black & Jeffrey T. Denning & Lisa J. Dettling & Sarena Goodman & Lesley J. Turner, 2023. "Taking It to the Limit: Effects of Increased Student Loan Availability on Attainment, Earnings, and Financial Well-Being," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(12), pages 3357-3400, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:reihed:v:64:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11162-022-09695-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.