Gen Z — loosely defined as anyone born between 1997 and 2012 —has a clear vision that college attainment can be tailored to their unique needs and can be accessible, inclusive, flexible, relevant, and affordable. Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with the student debt crisis continually in the news, and college enrollment among Gen Z students is shrinking. Importantly, Gen Z members who have graduated from college had a pause on their federal student loan payments during the pandemic. Those payments will resume in October, when Gen Z will once again confront the harsh realities of educational debt. Their generation has about 13% more student debt than Millennials, and paying off loans is among their top concerns after graduation.
