A grand gift

Student debt is a national problem. Students find themselves leaving college with massive loans and the daunting challenge of how to pursue career goals and pay off those loans.

A college degree remains important for future earnings and choice of careers, but the load of debt many college graduates face entering the job market drives decisions that may not be the best in the long run.

The situation has attracted the attention of politicians and others. Student loan debt surpasses $1.53 trillion and takes an average of 19.7 years to pay off. The amount due is larger than the amount owed nationa...