Credit Card Usage and Debt among College and University Students. ERIC Digest

Since the late 1990s, lawmakers, college officials, consumer advocacy groups, and higher education practitioners have become increasingly concerned about the rising use of credit cards among college students. Some recent studies have provided information about credit card use among college students. These studies include: (1) a study conducted by The Education Resources Institute and the Institute for Higher Education Policy; (2) a survey conducted by Nellie May (educational loan lender); and (3) a study by the U.S. General Accounting Office. In 1998, almost two-thirds of students had at least 1 credit card, and 1 in 5 of those had 4 or more cards. The majority of students (82%) reported an average balance of $1,000 or less. One study's results report 78% of undergraduates had credit cards, and the average balance of undergraduates was $2,748 in the year 2000. Most college administrators viewed having a credit card as something positive, but some disadvantages were evident, especially for students with student loans and credit card debt. Several institutions have made a practice of providing students with information about credit cards, and at least 24 states enacted legislation to study the effects of credit cards on college students or to limit credit card solicitations at higher education institutions. (SLD)