Americans still rank student loans as their greatest financial problem well into their forties.

Senator Tom Harkin calls for caps on grad student borrowing after an explosion in student debt. Bipartisan support for rethinking student aid policy is growing.

Graduate students are a fraction of all borrowers, but hold more outstanding student debt than undergrads. Both colleges and federal policy are to blame.

In the name of helping people attend college, Obama’s budget proposal seeks to expand access to student loans. But saddling graduates with more debt ignores the real problem: sky-high tuition, enabled by federal subsidies.

Bad credit? Can’t find a job? Rent and bills to pay? Why not take out a student loan? Don’t worry, you don’t even have to take any classes.