Kill Student Debt, Save the American Dream
At College Aid Pro, we believe the time for urgent reform in the U.S. higher education system is now. To drive meaningful change, we’ve written a new position paper offering bold proposals to tackle the student debt crisis and ensure education remains accessible for all families.
We invite you to read full position paper and join the conversation. Just submit the form below and we'll deliver it right to your inbox!
What You Need to Know: The College System is Broken.
It’s time to stop the student debt spiral and hold schools accountable—with real higher education reform.
Let’s be real: the college system is kind of a mess.
Tuition’s skyrocketing, students are swimming in debt, and colleges are treating exclusivity like a badge of honor instead of, you know, educating people. College Aid Pro CEO, Kevin Degnan’s position paper, Kill Student Debt, Save the American Dream, breaks it all down—and more importantly, offers real solutions.
🚀 A Brief History of How We Got Here
Key Takeaway: Federal policy helped more Americans go to college—but it accidentally built a debt trap for generations to come.
It started with good intentions. Post-WWII, the GI Bill and later, the National Defense Education Act (shoutout to Sputnik), made college more accessible. The Era of Access (1945–1982) focused on expanding opportunity. Great!
Then came the Era of Aspiration (1983–2025), when college became a prestige product. Scarcity was the marketing strategy, and loans were easy to get—maybe too easy. The result? A College Cost Bubble and a Student Debt Crisis.
🎓 Meet Johnny: Your Average, Overpriced College Experience
Key Takeaway: Johnny’s story is nearly everyone’s story—except the price tag is $160,000.
Johnny is a regular kid who follows the expected path: apply to college, accept some aid, take out loans, graduate, and hope for the best.
Four years later? He’s got a degree, no job, and a monthly loan payment that eats half his paycheck. His parents co-signed the loans, and now everyone’s stressed.
And Johnny’s not rare—he’s the norm.
⚖️ Who’s Accountable Here?
Key Takeaway: Right now, the only person who pays when college doesn’t work is the student.
Colleges cash the check. The government gets it’s interest. Loan providers are protected. But when a student can’t find a decent job after graduation? That’s their problem.
That’s why we need the next phase: The Era of Accountability.
🧠 Real Reform: 3 Big Ideas to Fix Higher Ed
Key Takeaway: Fix the incentives, and you fix the system.
- Turn Off the Easy Money
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No more “everyone qualifies” loans. Let college debt be cleared in bankruptcy again.
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Why? Unlimited loans = unlimited tuition hikes.
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- Hold Colleges Accountable
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Make schools co-sign or even provide loans. Strip non-profit status if they don’t deliver.
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Why? If they share the risk, they’ll care more about results.
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- Keep College Accessible
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Make community college and trade school free. Create “Achievement Grants” instead of blank checks.
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Why? More paths to success = less debt for everyone.
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💥 Yes, It’ll Shake Things Up
Key Takeaway: Reform will be messy—but necessary.
Some colleges might shrink or shut down. Fewer students may qualify for loans. Community college enrollment will spike. But if it stops another Johnny from drowning in debt, it’s worth it.
🗣️ Join the Conversation
Key Takeaway: Your voice matters—especially if you’re tired of this broken system.
Got thoughts? Good. Email support@collegeaidpro.com with “Kill Student Debt” in the subject line to get your perspective hears. You might even end up on the College! Podcast.
🎧 Listen here: Apple | Spotify
Let’s end the student debt crisis—by actually fixing college.