Federal Student Loan borrowers escape the credit constraints other borrowers are bound by and therefore student loans swelled during the Great Recession, when other types of debt contracted. 2008-2018, the avg. balance per student loan borrower grew at 5% per year, even surpassing the rapid growth in tuition. https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2019/10/who-borrows-for-collegeand-who-repays.html