Have you ever taken out a loan for your own education? Include loans which no longer have a balance.
Yes
No
[If Yes] When you borrowed money for your education, did you expect to repay all your loans yourself, some of the loans yourself, or that someone else would repay all your loans?
I expected to fully repay all my loans myself
I expected someone else would help repay some of my loans
I expected someone else would fully repay all my loans
Have you ever taken out a loan (or cosigned on a loan) for someone else’s education? Include loans which no longer have a balance. “Cosigning” is when you agree to be responsible for a loan jointly with the primary borrower, often a family member.
Yes
No
[If Yes] Did you take out a loan or cosign a loan? Mark all that apply.
Took out a loan
Cosigned a loan
[If Yes] For whose education did you borrow? Mark all that apply.
For my child
For my grandchild
For my spouse or partner
For someone else
[If Yes] When you most recently borrowed for someone else’s education (including as a cosigner), who did you expect would repay the loans?
I expected to fully repay the loans myself
I expected someone else would help repay some of my loans
I expected someone else would fully repay the loans
Has someone else ever borrowed a student loan to help pay for your education? Do not include loans where someone cosigned on your loan.
Yes
No
[If Yes] Considering all the times someone borrowed for your education, did you expect you would help to repay some or all the money?
I did not expect to help repay any of the money
I expected to help repay some of the money
I expected to repay all the money
Don’t know
Has anyone else ever made payments on the student loans you took out (for your own or someone else’s education)?
No, I have made all the payments
Yes, but I’ve made more than half of the payments
Yes, but I’ve made about half of the payments
Yes, but I’ve made less than half of the payments
Yes, and I have not made any payments
Have you ever helped repay a student loan someone else took out for their education?
Yes, for a spouse or partner
Yes, for a child or grandchild
Yes, for someone else
No
In total, including loans for your own and others’ education, about how much in student loans have you borrowed or cosigned for?
[$ numerical input]
What types of student loans have you taken out (as the only borrower or as a cosigner on the loan)? Mark all that apply.
Stafford federal student loan (subsidized or unsubsidized)
PLUS federal student loan for graduate students
PLUS federal student loan for parents
Perkins federal loan
Federal consolidation loan
Private student loan from a bank or other finance company
Loan from my school
Loan from a friend or family member
Other
Don’t know
[If Private] Thinking of all the student loans you’ve taken out, about what share of the total dollar amount were private loans?
100%
67-99%
34-66%
1-33%
The next questions ask about your experience making payments on your student loans, that is, loans you took out or cosigned for. Your student loan “servicer” is the company assigned by the Department of Education or your private lender to handle the billing and other details of your student loans.
Have you ever had difficulty making payments on your student loans, that is, loans you took out for your own or someone else’s education?
Yes,
No, I have not had any difficulty making payments
[If Yes] Did you miss any required payments?
Yes
No
[If Yes] Which of the following reasons best describes why you most recently had difficulty making payments? Mark all that apply.
I had unexpected expenses
My income was less than my expenses
I had an unexpected drop in income
I didn’t know how to make payments
I didn’t know I needed to make payments
I didn’t want to make payments
None of the above
[If Yes] When you most recently had difficulty making student loan payments, did you do any of the following to get help?
|
Yes |
No |
I contacted or talked to my servicer or lender |
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I contacted the U.S. Department of Education |
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I asked friends or family for financial assistance |
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I paid a company to help (for example, with consolidating loans or lowering my student loan payments) |
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I contacted some other company or organization |
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I researched options online |
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[If Yes] At any time while your student loans were in repayment, did you ever experience any of the following regarding your student loans?
|
Yes |
No |
My student loans were assigned to a debt collector or collection agency |
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|
My federal income tax refund was withheld by the IRS |
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My Social Security retirement or disability benefits were withheld |
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My wages were garnished |
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Over the time you have been in repayment, have any of your federal student loans gone into default?
Yes
No
[If Yes] Thinking of the most recent time you had a student loan in default, how did you get your loan out of default?
I haven’t, my loan is still in default
I voluntarily paid off my loan in full
Rehabilitation or consolidation
Through the Fresh Start program
My loan was forgiven, cancelled, or discharged
My loan was paid off through involuntary collections or garnishment
I don’t know
In the past year, have you done any of the following regarding your student loan(s)?
|
Yes |
No |
Contacted my loan servicer |
|
|
Logged into my loan servicer’s website |
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Logged into Federal Student Aid’s website |
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Made a payment on my student loans |
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Submitted a complaint about my servicer |
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Have you ever contacted or talked to your student loan servicer(s) for any of the following reasons regarding your student loan(s)?
|
Yes |
No |
I was not able to make my monthly payment on time |
|
|
I wanted to lower my monthly payments or enroll in a different repayment plan
|
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I wanted to temporarily pause my payments (usually referred to as a forbearance or deferment) |
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I wanted to dispute my debt |
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I wanted information about my account, repayment options, or loan forgiveness |
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I wanted to make some other change |
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[If yes to any] Thinking of the most recent time you interacted with your servicer(s), did you enroll in a new repayment plan, forbearance, or deferment to reduce your payments?
Yes
No
[If no] If you did not make any changes to your payments after the most recent time working with your servicer(s), why not?
I decided I didn’t need to make a change
Enrolling was too difficult or too complicated
I was told I was not eligible for changes
Available payment plans didn’t lower payments enough
I received incorrect information or had difficulty with my servicer
I was not trying to change my payments
Have you ever done any of the following because of your or your household’s student loan payments?
|
Yes |
No |
Carried a balance on a credit card I otherwise would not have |
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Went without food, medicine, or other necessities |
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Borrowed from family or friends |
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Deferred payments on bills, loans, or other financial obligations |
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Delayed starting a family |
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Delayed buying a home |
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The next X questions are about your federal student loans, including loans you borrowed for someone else and loans that no longer have a balance. If you have never had a federal student loan, skip to question Y.
Were any of your student loan payments paused because of the federal student loan payment pause?
Yes
No
[If yes] Did the payment pause allow or cause you to do any of the following?
|
Yes |
No |
Pay down other debt (credit cards, other loans, collections) |
|
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Make a major purchase |
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Save or invest money |
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Delay consolidating or refinancing my student loans |
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Start or expand my family |
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Relocate to a new city |
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Attend more school |
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Change jobs or careers |
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[If yes] Over the next few months, will you have to do any of the following so that you can make your student loan payment(s)?
|
Yes |
No |
Cut back on large purchases |
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Cut back on basics |
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Save less |
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Earn more income |
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[If yes] How confident are you that you can afford your student loan payments now that the payment pause has ended?
Very confident
Fairly confident
Somewhat confident
Slightly confident
Not confident at all
For federal student loans, borrowers can pick a repayment plan like extended repayment or a repayment plan (sometimes called income-based or income-driven repayment (IDR) plans) for which their monthly payment amount depends on their income and family size.
Have you ever chosen a repayment plan for your federal student loans, or have you only been on the standard repayment plan? Mark all the apply.
Yes, I chose an IDR plan
Yes, I chose some other type of plan
No, I’m on the standard plan
No, I’m not in repayment
I don’t know
[If No, I’m on the standard plan] Why haven’t you chosen a repayment plan?
I prefer the standard repayment plan
I didn’t know I could choose my repayment plan
I need help or more information to choose my plan
I haven’t given it serious thought
[If Yes, IDR] How long ago did you most recently choose an IDR plan?
Within the last year
1-2 years ago
3-5 years ago
More than 5 years ago
[If Yes, IDR] Have you ever had difficulty with any of the following when trying to enroll in or use IDR? Mark all that apply.
Difficulty certifying my income
Difficulty completing my enrollment application
Difficulty getting information from my servicer
Missed a recertification deadline
Did you make different choices for any of the following because of IDR plan options? If you didn’t know about those options when you were in school, would you have made different choices if you had known about IDR? Mark all that apply.
I chose or would have chosen …
to attend a different school
a different major or field of study
to complete less school
to complete more school
a different career
There are several programs available (such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness or Total and Permanent Disability Discharge) where borrowers can have part or all their student loans forgiven, discharged, or cancelled.
Have you ever applied for any of the following loan cancellation, discharge, or forgiveness programs? Mark all that apply.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
Borrower Defense to Repayment
Closed School Discharge
Total & Permanent Disability Discharge
Bankruptcy discharge
The one-time debt relief overruled by the Supreme Court in June 2023
[If PSLF or Teacher Loan Forgiveness] Did you choose your major, career, or employer at least in part because of the PSLF or Teacher Loan Forgiveness program?
|
Yes |
No |
I chose a different major |
|
|
I chose a different career |
|
|
I chose a different employer |
|
|
Have you ever had any of your student loans discharged, cancelled, or forgiven (meaning that your balance on the loan(s) was reduced, potentially to $0) through any of the following programs? Mark all that apply.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
Borrower Defense to Repayment
Closed School Discharge
Total and Permanent Disability Discharge
Discharged in bankruptcy
Income-Driven Repayment
Another program or law
No
Not sure
[If yes] About how much debt did you have discharged, cancelled, or forgiven?
[$ numerical input]
[If yes] Has having your debt discharged, cancelled, or forgiven allowed you to do any of the following sooner than you might otherwise have? Mark all that apply.
Move
Get married or start a family
Make a large purchase
Save more
Retire
Change jobs or start a business
Get medical care
What is your current work status? Mark all that apply including for your spouse or partner if you have one.
|
You |
Spouse or Partner |
Self-employed |
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Work full time |
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Work part time |
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Retired |
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Temporarily laid off or on leave |
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Unemployed |
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Not working for pay (homemaker, student, disabled, etc.) |
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[If working] Do you currently work mostly in-person, remotely, or a mix of both?
Mostly in-person
Mostly remotely (such as from home)
Mix of both
[If working] How much does your current work relate to your education?
It relates closely to my education
It relates somewhat to my education
It is unrelated to my education
[If working] How satisfied are you with your job or career path?
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied
Somewhat unsatisfied
Very unsatisfied
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? My student loans were a good investment.
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
What was your household’s annual income in 2022 from all sources (wages, tips, interest, child support, alimony, investment or rental income, retirement, Social Security, and government benefits such as food stamps)?
$20,000 or less
$20,001 to $35,000
$35,001 to $50,000
$50,001 to $65,000
$65,001 to $80,000
$80,001 to $100,000
$100,001 to $125,000
$125,001 to $175,000
$175,001 to $250,000
More than $250,000
As best as you can remember, when you first started working after leaving school, what was your annual income from all sources?
$20,000 or less
$20,001 to $35,000
$35,001 to $50,000
$50,001 to $65,000
$65,001 to $80,000
$80,001 to $100,000
More than $100,000
I don’t know
I haven’t worked after leaving school
In the past year, did you provide financial support to family members who do not live in your household?
Yes
No
[If yes] Approximately how much did you spend to help them in total last year?
[$ numerical input]
In the past year, did you receive financial support from someone who does not live in your household?
Yes
No
[If yes] Approximately how much did you get in total last year?
[$ numerical input]
About how much money does your household currently have in IRA, 401(k), pension plans, or other retirement savings accounts?
Don’t have a retirement savings account
Less than $10,000
$10,000-$29,999
$30,000-$59,999
$60,000-$99,999
$100,000-$149,999
$150,000 or more
About how much total money does your household have in non-retirement savings and investment accounts?
Don’t have a non-retirement savings or investment account
Less than $500
$500 to $999
$1,000 to $2,999
$3,000 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $19,999
$20,000 or more
How much are your household’s total expenses in a typical month, including all debt payments, housing payments, utilities, and daily living expenses?
Less than $250
$250-$499
$500-$749
$750-$999
$1,000-$1,999
$2,000-$4,999
$5,000 or more
Did you receive flexibility or assistance from any of the following coronavirus-specific programs? Mark all that apply.
Private student loan forbearance
Federal student loan forbearance
Other loan forbearance (such as mortgage, auto, or credit card)
Rent payment deferment or flexibility
Eviction protection
Additional child tax credit
Paycheck protection loan
Unemployment insurance payments
Stimulus or Economic Impact Payment
What sex were you assigned at birth?
Male
Female
Don’t know or prefer not to answer
What is your current gender identity? Mark all that apply.
Male
Female
Transgender
I use a different term
Don’t know or prefer not to answer
Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
Yes
No
What is your race? Mark all that apply.
White
Black or African American
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
How old are you?
Less than 30 years
30-49 years
50-61 years
62 years or older
Do you have any long-term physical, mental, or emotional conditions that make it difficult to carry out your day-to-day activities?
Yes
No
What is your current marital status?
Married
Living with a partner
Never married
Previously married (for example: divorced or widowed)
How many children under 18 live in your household?
[numerical input]
If you helped any of your children or younger relatives pay for college, how did you do so? Mark all that apply.
Paid money out of savings (including a retirement account)
Took out or cosigned a student loan
Used a home equity loan or refinanced a mortgage
Took out another loan
Not applicable
Did any of your parents attend college?
Yes
No
Are you currently attending school?
Yes
No
[If no] What year did you last attend school?
[Numerical input]
What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?
Less than a high school degree
High school degree or GED
Some college, but no degree or certificate
Certificate program or vocational certificate
Associate’s degree (such as AA, AS)
Bachelor’s degree (such as BA, BS)
Post-graduate degree (such as Master’s, MD, JD, or Doctorate degree)
[If more than high school degree] For your highest level of education, which of the following best describes your major or field of study?
Liberal arts, humanities, law, social sciences
Biological sciences and health related programs
Technical, vocational, or trade program
Business
Engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics
General studies and multi/interdisciplinary studies
[If more than high school degree] Have you ever received a Pell Grant for your education?
Yes
No
Not sure
[If more than high school degree] Thinking of all the costs of your education, have your parents or other family members paid for:
They paid most or all of the costs
They paid some of the costs
They paid little or none of the costs
[If more than high school degree] What is the name of the college or technical school you attended for the longest amount of time?
[Free response]
[If more than high school degree] Overall, how satisfied are you with the school(s) and program(s) you attended for your college or other post-high school education?
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied
Somewhat unsatisfied
Very unsatisfied
Over the next 12 months, do you expect your total household income to increase, decrease, or stay about the same?
Increase
Decrease
Stay about the same
Over the next two years, how likely do you think it is that you will:
|
Very Likely |
Somewhat Likely |
Equally likely as unlikely |
Somewhat Unlikely |
Very Unlikely |
return to school? |
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move? |
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buy a home? |
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buy a car? |
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have your student loans cancelled, discharged, or forgiven? |
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pay off your student loans? |
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How well do these statements describe you or your situation?
|
Completely |
Very well |
Somewhat |
Very little |
Not at all |
Because of my money situation, I feel like I will never have the things I want in life |
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I am just getting by financially |
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I am concerned that the money I have or will save won’t last |
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How often do these statements apply to you?
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Always |
Often |
Sometimes |
Rarely |
Never |
I have money left over at the end of the month |
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My finances control my life |
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Which of the following statements comes closest to describing how much you are willing to give up something today to get a bigger benefit in the future?
Willing to give up a lot today to get more later
Willing to give up some today to get more later
Willing to give up a little today to get more later
Not willing to give up anything today to get more later
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice:
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3170-00XX. It expires on XX/XX/XXXX. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average approximately .33 hours per response. Responding to this collection of information is voluntary. Comments regarding this collection of information, including the estimated response time, suggestions for improving the usefulness of the information, or suggestions for reducing the burden to respond to this collection should be submitted to Bureau at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Attention: PRA Office), 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552, or by email to PRA_Comments@cfpb.gov.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Gibbs, Christa (CFPB) |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2023-10-23 |