The Student Debt Crisis: America's Moral Urgency

"A profoundly moving, well-researched examination of a uniquely American crisis." --Library Journal, starred review

"As the student-debt crisis continues to persist, many will find this book insightful, well researched, and easy to read." --Booklist

The student debt crisis is a civil rights issue, and it's time we start treating it like one.

Based on extensive interviews with students, college administrators, policymakers, and other leaders, The Student Debt Crisis illuminates one of the nation's most urgent and pressing civil rights questions of the last three decades: Who gets to go to college? This book comprehensively examines the history and current state of the student debt crisis in the US. With a focus on the moral imperative of ensuring equal access to higher education, The Student Debt Crisis highlights the disproportionate impact of student debt on Black and brown students, particularly Black women. By delving into the history and practical realities of student debt, higher-education journalist Jamal Watson sheds light on the challenges faced by debt-laden college graduates and non-graduates alike.

From the rising number of borrowers defaulting on their loans to the barriers that hinder accessibility for those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, Watson offers a deeper understanding of the student debt crisis on macro and micro levels. As the spotlight on student debt continues to grow, The Student Debt Crisis is a vital resource for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of this issue. From policymakers shaping paths of action to families and students navigating educational choices, this book offers essential insights and potential solutions to these pressing challenges.

Award-winning higher-education reporter Jamal Watson is executive editor of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, a trade publication founded in 1984. He is also professor and associate dean at Trinity Washington University. Watson holds degrees from Georgetown University, Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, the University of Delaware, and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (PhD, Afro-American Studies). Watson is an expert on the Black press and the civil rights movement whose reporting stints include the Baltimore Sun, the Boston Globe, USA Today, and the New York Sun. He has been featured on MSNBC, ABC News, and NPR. He lives in Washington, DC, and Tampa.

Reverend Al Sharpton is an American civil rights and social justice activist, Baptist minister, and the founder and president of the National Action Network.