Date of Award

Fall 5-8-2024

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

Political Science

First Advisor

Serena Laws

Abstract

Student loan debt is in the trillions. So why aren't Americans more mad about that? This thesis explores the how the submerged nature of student loan policy shapes the politics around it. Suzanne Mettler suggest that federal student loan policy is part of the submerged state where Americans do not "see" the role of government within the student loan program. However, I argue that this is not that reason. I argue and show through an original survey that the role of federal student loan servicers is actually what is hidden about federal student loan policy. And that revealing the role of federal student loan servicers to survey respondents has actually resulted in their changing perspective on student loan policy in general and the role of federal student loan servicers.

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