For many Gen Xers, the promise of higher education has turned into years of financial stress. A recent Wall Street Journal story shows how easy access to student loans decades ago led to long-term debt that’s now weighing heavily on people in their 40s and 50s. What was meant to create opportunity has instead become a major roadblock for many trying to build savings, pay bills, and plan for retirement.
The article highlights the experiences of several borrowers whose stories reflect this growing crisis. One man, Rick Betancur, borrowed about $74,000 for graduate school more than 25 years ago. Despite making payments for years, interest caused his balance to grow to over $300,000.
Another borrower, Christopher Fausone, took out student loans later in life, hoping an advanced degree would help him earn more. Instead, he now owes around $130,000 and worries he’ll never catch up.
According to federal data shared in the Journal, Gen X borrowers between ages 50 and 61 have the highest average student loan balance of any age group—about $48,000 each.
The article also features Courtney Greenstein, a National Debt Relief client who knows the struggle all too well. Courtney, 50, still owes $40,000 in federal student loans while also working to pay off more than $50,000 in other debt through National Debt Relief’s program.
For years, she carried the financial load of supporting her two children—and even a former partner and his child—on her own. That meant paying for rent, cars, and insurance on top of everything else.
With help from National Debt Relief, Courtney has already paid off four credit cards and is on track to complete her program by 2027. She says the company’s support gave her the structure and confidence she needed to take control of her finances.
Courtney’s story mirrors what National Debt Relief found in its 2025 Price of Parenting survey. Parents with student loans are the least able to save for their children’s future education, and more than one in four believe the cost of college isn’t worth the financial strain it causes. For many families, these challenges affect not just the parents, but the next generation too.
The Wall Street Journal’s piece sheds light on how deeply student loan debt affects Gen X households—and how programs like National Debt Relief’s can help people find a way forward. With the right support, borrowers can rebuild their confidence, reduce their debt, and move toward the financial stability they’ve been working so hard to achieve.
You can read the full article on The Wall Street Journal website.
