And by Brian C. Coleman, DC, MHS
From Pause to Payment: The Impact of Post-COVID Student Loan Policies
A lot has happened with student loans recently. For 3 years, the COVID-19 pandemic postponed interest accrual and payments on loans.(1) During that time, several federal loan servicers terminated contract extensions with the U.S. Department of Education (ED), forcing other servicers to assume
responsibility for a larger portfolio of student loans to service.(2) Payments restarted in October 2023, and, in an effort to help borrowers resume payments, the ED implemented a one-year “on-ramp” helping to shield borrowers from negative credit reporting and a more streamlined process to restore defaulted loans to repayment.(3) The value and return on investment for higher education degrees has come into question.(4) Amid all of this turmoil, new doctors of chiropractic (DCs) continued to graduate and existing DCs were trying to navigate the Shakespearean adage: to repay, or not to repay–that is the question.
The Weight of Student Loans in Chiropractic: A Growing Challenge
Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate programs grew at a rate of 233%.(4) Today, many DCs are emerging with more than just a passion for patient care—they are stepping from the classroom to the curb with a mountain of student loan debt. Based on a recent study, many DC graduates report owing well over six-figures of debt.(5) With interest quickly accruing on these mortgage-size balances, financial stress is a constant companion. Compounding the matter further, the numerous repayment plan options, abbreviations, and forgiveness opportunities often leave borrowers’ heads spinning, like stepping into anatomy lab for the first time all over again. For some, managing debt while an associate or building a practice can feel overwhelming, forcing them to delay important generational milestones like buying a home, starting a family, or saving for retirement. This burden is not simply a personal struggle; it is reshaping the entire chiropractic profession, limiting some clinicians’ ability to thrive and serve their communities effectively and ethically.(6) Further, insurmountable loan burdens substantially detract from a sense of professional and personal well-being, despite chiropractic frequently being touted as offering a positive work-life balance.
Requesting Your Input
To address these challenges, researchers are conducting a national survey on student loan debt among chiropractors. If you graduated from a U.S.-based, CCE-accredited Doctor of Chiropractic program, the study team wants to hear from you. Your experiences—whether you are just starting out, have been practicing for years, have student loan debt, or paid off your student loans—will help capture the real-world impact of student debt on chiropractors nationwide. The results of this survey can guide future research and advocacy efforts, enabling data-driven solutions to improve transparency around student debt, support DC inclusion in loan forgiveness programs, promote long-term financial viability in the profession, enhance personal and professional well-being, and ensure patients continue to have access to chiropractic care.
Take the Survey and Make Your Loan Story Count
Your participation matters. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes. All responses are anonymous and confidential. Every voice brings us one step closer to creating meaningful change for DCs across the country.
👉[Click Here to Take the Student Loan Survey]
Together, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for our profession. Thank you for contributing to this important effort!
Dr. Schut is a Staff Chiropractor in the Wellness and Preventive Medicine Department at the Cleveland Clinic and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Cleveland, OH). Dr. Coleman is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Biomedical Informatics and Data Science at the Yale School of Medicine and an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics (Health Informatics) at the Yale School of Public Health.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Cleveland Clinic nor the United States Government.
References
1. US Government Accountability Office. When the Student Loan Payment Pause Ended, Did Borrowers Pay? 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://www.gao.gov/blog/when-student-loan-payment-pause-ended-did-borrowers-pay#:~:text=During%20COVID%2D19%2C%20student%20loan,prolonged%20period%20of%20postponed%20payments
2. Bankrate. What you need to know about the companies no longer doing federal student loan servicing. 2023. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://www.bankrate.com/loans/student-loans/navient-exit-student-loan-servicing/
3. Center for American Progress. Timeline: Federal Student Loans During the COVID-19 Pandemic. 2022. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/timeline-federal-student-loans-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
4. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Graduate Degrees: Risky and Unequal Paths to the Top. 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://cew.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/cew-graduate_degrees-fr.pdf
5. Schut SM, Lawrence DJ, Bejarano G. Student loan debt and income among chiropractors: A description of consultancy data. J Chiropr Educ. 2024 September 16. [In press].
6. Gleberzon BJ, Perle SM, Lamarche GA. Developing a model curriculum for ethical practice building at Chiropractic Colleges: Part 1: qualitative analysis of opinions from an International Workshop. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2012;56(2):87-91.
