Stephanie Thomas, a certified financial planner in Raleigh, borrowed about $20,000 for college more than 25 years ago and considers it 'good debt' because she could pay it down manageably. For her daughters, she and her husband saved in 529 plans, and her youngest is taking college-level courses through dual enrollment, a tactic whose use rose 9.6% according to the National Student Clearinghouse's spring 2026 report. Between 1995 and 2025, inflation-adjusted tuition and fees rose 74% at private four-year schools and 101% at public ones, and nearly half of families now borrow to pay for college, pushing student debt to $1.85 trillion. Early-career job prospects are also less certain, as entry-level postings in the U.S. fell 35% since January 2023, leading many families to question the value of a degree.
Summary written by Upside AI from the original article. Read the source for full details.
Original headline: She made college ‘good debt’ for herself. Can she do the same for her daughter?
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