Angie Miller, a Senior Research Scientist in the Center for Postsecondary Research, has received a grant to investigate the relationship between student loan debt and post-college transitions.

The study will use data collected annually from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This data includes information about the undergraduate experience, asking students about their participation in programs and activities that promote learning and personal development. One set of items, the Senior Transitions Topical Module, was recently revised to include questions about loan debt, perceived value of education, and financial stability.

Miller and her team are now using this data to explore how student debt may affect post-graduation decisions and perceptions of whether their educational investment was “worth it.” The large number of respondents means they can also disaggregate findings by several subgroups and identify potential disparities in perceived loan debt impact. Although the grant will conclude in 2027, NSSE is an annual survey, which will allow the team to look at trends over time or generate new questions that can be addressed with the data in the future.

“Student loan debt is an ongoing and increasingly controversial issue in higher education. We can look at things like dollar amounts and interest rates, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of how it impacts borrowers,” Miller said. “This project goes beyond the blunt measures of employment status, income, and repayment statistics, providing further nuance by asking about debt in the context of perceived college value and financial stability. We hope that our findings will inform the development of policies and practices that account for differential impacts of loan debt. These might take the form of financial wellness initiatives, career development services, and student loan counseling processes.”

The team also includes co-PIs Matthew Ison from Western Michigan University and Candace Henry from the University of South Florida.