Opinion

In Colorado, more than two-thirds of the students who graduate from college have substantial student-loan debt, averaging more than $30,000. At Fort Lewis, the total is somewhat lower, just over $25,000 for four years. Nationwide, the average is $37,000. Those who continue into law school, medical school or other professional programs owe much more. As the cost of college increases, and it does every year, those numbers grow. Working one’s way through school is hardly a viable option.

At the end of last year, 42.4 million Americans owed $1.3 trillion in federal student loans – other types of financing add to the figure – and nearly 10 percent of borrowers were in default. Some of them are avoiding their obligations, but millions don’t earn enough money to add student-loan repayment on top of their living costs.

Last month, the Trump administration eliminated protections against charging high fees on past-due loans made through the Federal Family Education Loan Program, which accounts for nearly half of the student loans in default. To add to the problem, a recent Consumer Federation of America study found that loan servicers fail to help borrowers find the repayment plans that would help them.

To President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, $37,000, or even $150,000, is small change, but after earning a bachelor’s degree, students average more than 20 years paying off student loans – if they can. For many, that debt is an impediment to being able to purchase a home, start a family or to work in a small town for a salary less than a city job would pay. That hampers rural America.

College costs are rising much faster than wages, and for too many, a degree is no longer a viable upward path. That’s a problem that needs to be solved nationwide, because the United States needs well-educated citizens everywhere, not just in cities. Lenders deserve to be repaid, but adding fees that can then be written off as losses only digs the hole deeper for borrowers who already are struggling.

The Trump administration must consider ordinary citizens, not just corporate income, as it seeks a better way.