I had over $50k in loans that I was able to pay off quickly due to my willingness to work in a remote area.

If the government didn’t back stop the lending with favorable laws (can’t discharge them in bankruptcy) this level of borrowing never would’ve gotten this bad.

Banks wouldn’t lend to students if their earning potential was terrible after graduation. I know so many who got Ph. D in some sort of soft social science and then get mad that the only employer who is willing to hire them at an average salary is the government or NGOs backed by government grants.