Should You if You Have Student Debt? The Answer May Surprise You.

For those who still have significant debts from school, figuring out financial decisions can be tough. In terms of investing -- should you? -- the answer isn't exactly one-sided. There are many things to consider when choosing whether to invest while you still have student debt.Before diving into strategy, let's start with the facts. As of 2025, American student loan debt sits at roughly $1.8 trillion, held by about 42 million to 43 million borrowers. The average federal student loan balance is north of $37,000. Meanwhile, delinquency rates are rising. Around 5.8 million borrowers were 90+ days behind on payments as of April 2025 -- nearly one in three of those with payments due. With collections restarted after pandemic-era pauses, many borrowers are now facing renewed pressure and risk of credit score damage.Given all of that, it's a compelling question: If you're carrying student debt, should you pause investing to focus on paying it off? Or is there a smarter path that balances paying off debt with trying to make money in the market?Continue readingWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool