July 30, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Morton, or 717-236-7486
Nearly two-thirds (60%) of surveyed Pennsylvanians with student-loan debt report they are only just able to cover their monthly expenses but would have trouble with an unexpected emergency, according to a Morning Consult survey.
More than a third of Pennsylvania borrowers (35%) in repayment are not aware the CARES Act affected their loans, and a quarter of those reported they were “not aware at all” of the CARES Act effect, the survey showed. There is high (78%) bipartisan support to extend the federal monthly payment relief through September 2021.
“Pennsylvania is consistently ranked near the bottom of all student-debt categories, whether it be the amount of total outstanding student-loan debt or debt at time of graduation,” APSCUF President Dr. Jamie Martin said. “Morning Consult’s survey results furthered our fears: Not only are borrowers still struggling, but they lack clear resources to inform them of major changes such as the CARES Act.”
Additional items covered in the survey, conducted in June in partnership with the Center for Responsible Lending, are:
- COVID-19 effects on borrowers
- Borrowers struggling to keep up
- Loan servicers not providing crucial information
- Support for policy solutions
Full survey results will be released by Aug. 10.
APSCUF will host an online presentation on survey findings 2–3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4. At a virtual discussion 5–6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, State Treasurer Joe Torsella, State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D–Montgomery/Philadelphia) and State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara (D–Delaware) will discuss student-debt solutions. To attend these events, which are open to the media, please contact Sean Crampsie, director of government relations, at for login information.
APSCUF represents more than 5,000 faculty and coaches at the State System universities: Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.