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2 Young Adults Share Their Student Loan Debt Stories

Kristin Bastian righted her financial course after defaulting on $26,500 in loans. She's now a financial education manager at Family Services, Inc. (Family Services, Inc. Facebook page)
Kristin Bastian righted her financial course after defaulting on $26,500 in loans. She's now a financial education manager at Family Services, Inc. (Family Services, Inc. Facebook page)

Graduates of the class of 2014 carry an average student loan debt of $28,950, according to the Institute for College Access & Success’s Project on Student Debt. That’s up from last year, and millions of student loan borrowers across the country are feeling that burden.

As part of Here & Now’s series on student debt, host Jeremy Hobson talks with two students: Joelle Stangler, who will graduate next year from the University of Minnesota with $30,000 in debt, and Kristin Bastian, who defaulted on $26,500 in loans before righting her financial course and becoming a financial education counselor. Read more about Kristin’s story here.

Guests

  • Joelle Stangler, senior and student body president at the University of Minnesota. She tweets @PrezStangler.
  • Kristin Bastian, financial education manager at Family Services, Inc.

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