The Student loan bubble In 19 simple charts.

     

 from Zerohedge.com
      A picture paints a thousand words but in the case of the world of college education (and its surrounding income, unemployment, debt burden, and pricing implications), we decided 19 charts was the simplest way to explain the path to debt servitude that an increasing share of the US population is taking - despite record delinquencies, falling real incomes for graduates, stagnant graduate employment, and rising college costs. As BofAML notes, the cost of higher education has continued to climb, fueled by debt and government aid. Over the past twenty years, tuition growth exceeded the average rate of inflation by nearly 3% annually, while both grant aid and Federal loans per full-time undergraduate exceeded by about 5% annually. This trend is not sustainable, in our view. The challenging labor market, which has left the youth population underemployed and underpaid, has put the spotlight on the burden of student debt. We expect a correction in the price of tuition and reduction in debt. There will likely be lasting effects on the economy from the high cost of education and large debt burden. Graduating during a recession leads to permanently lower earnings growth, making it that much harder to service the debt burden.

      Enrollment in college has never been higher...


Which appears to have spurred a post-Lehman jump in Federal Aid and Loans...


And sure enough - Student debt has taken over the 'debt' lead from credit card and auto debt...


And as with every credit-fueled bubble - this has inflated the price of the good or service...


But has NOT benefited the 'student' in reality as real income of college grads has fallen just as fast as high school grads since 2007...


...though over a longer period - an extended academic career has paid off (so more college and more debt is better?)...


of course, corporations have been quick to recognize the money flow and degree granting institutions have risen dramatically...


and the money flows to best ranked schools - which incentivizes raising fees in a 'Prisoner's dilemma' world... (dominant strategy is to raise tuition - as indicated by the green arrows)


So while firms are doing well, the 'product' they are selling is not helping as employment remains low for 20-24 year olds...


and young adults are increasingly leaving the workforce in a hurry...


or taking part-time jobs...


leaving the burden back on the parents...


but the jobs that are expected to grow are the low-paying jobs...


But what will change after the election - especially for the for-profit education companies...


As the government provides an increasing share of the massive student loan market...


leaving the student burdened with government loans...


as even the lowest income grads are getting assistance in record amounts via Pell Grants...


but delinquencies are rising...


at record rates...


There will likely be lasting effects on the economy from the high cost of education and large debt burden. About 68% of students in private four-year schools have taken on debt, 60% in public four-year and nearly 85% in for-profit four-year. The average debt for an undergraduate upon graduation is $25,000; more than half of the average starting salary. Underutilization in the labor market and high student debt has delayed life decisions such as household formation and discouraged new credit creation. Graduating during a recession leads to permanently lower earnings growth, making it that much harder to service the debt burden.