Students across the country contributed to the call for reform of federal student loan programs over the past year. The social and economic health of the country relies on increasing the number of people who complete a college degree, but budget cuts are increasing college costs. On average, students borrow $23,300 in loans to pay for college.  Meanwhile, banks and lenders received massive subsidies from the federal government to make risk-free federal loans, and keep the interest.  We aimed to stabilize and increase grant aid to decrease student loan debt, by educating students and citizens, the media, and opinion leaders about the need to strengthen the student aid programs. Read about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Grassroots Action

“Wall of Debt” Week of Action: September 14-18 2009 Students filled out petitions in the form of bricks indicating the level of student loan debt they will graduate with. This national “wall of debt” emphasized, in numerical terms, the level of debt facing students on the local, state, and national level. US PIRG engaged 5,800 students in the events on the ground and in cyberspace to sign the brick petitions.

Take a Swing at Sallie Mae:  March 6 – 10, 2010 The momentum behind student aid reform did not stop in September. In early March, students across the country educated their peers and the media about the sweetheart deal that banks and lenders receive from within the student loan programs, which creates excessive profits for the industry.  Students could ‘take a swing’ at the nation’s largest lender, Sallie Mae, while at the event.

Research

On March 23rd, US PIRG released a report Obama’s Budget: Supporting Students, Not Banks, highlighting the increased levels of debt students are experiencing and the need for more need based aid. The report estimated Pell Grant increases for students in each state.

Student spokespeople

PIRG student volunteers came to Washington DC to rally in support of SAFRA.  Sam Obergh, an intern with NJPIRG and Pell grant recipient, appeared at an event with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on March 17th.  Samantha O’Leary, a volunteer with MASSPIRG chatted with Education Chairman Harkin just seconds before she appeared at a press event with him to tout the passage of the bill through the Senate.

US Public Interest and Research Group (US PIRG) and the Student PIRGs. 

USPIRG is a national federation of state based, non-profit consumer advocacy organizations. The Student PIRGs have chapters on close to 80 college campuses across the country, through which students get involved in public interest campaigns and learn civic skills.  USPIRG launched its Higher Education Project on behalf of its campus constituents in 1994. Visit our websites at www.uspirg.org or www.studentpirgs.org for more information.