About

Debt Hits Hard is an effort by Campus Progress to raise public awareness of the rising level of student and consumer debt that young people are struggling with, as well as college affordability and access issues. Debt Hits Hard began in 2006 as a campaign to cut student loan interest rates in half, end wasteful subsidies to lenders that cost taxpayers billions, raise federal Pell Grants to $5,100, and raise awareness in low-income communities about financial aid resources. Through the work of students, Campus Progress, and our coalition partners at the Campaing for College Affordability, most of these policies were enacted in 2007 with the passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.

The Debt Hits Hard campaign used a wide range of innovative tools like text messaging web ads, movie theater spots and campus tabling -- to energize young people seeking a better college financial aid deal from Washington.

Central to Campus Progress’s campaign were three 30-second videos that graphically illustrate how educational debt hits hard -- for a high school student who can’t afford college, a college student already mired in student loan debt, and a young couple who can’t afford to marry.

Campus Progress is still committed to mobilizing students to soften the blow of student debt, and working for federal, state, and campus policies that bring us closer to our goal – the opportunity for all qualified people to receive an affordable college education, and to make sure young people are not burdened with unmanageable levels of student and credit card debt. To see what you can do, click here.

Launched in February 2005, Campus Progress works to help young people make their voices heard through the CampusProgress.org web magazine, student publications and campaigns, hundreds of speaking events and training programs, and an annual National Conference for over 1000 students.

Click here watch Campus Progress Action testify in Congress on credit card debt, and read the written testimony.

Watch the Debt Hits Hard Public Service Announcements: YouTube - QuickTime

Flash Ads: Watch our online ads, and post them to your own website!

Debt Hits Hard in the News:

"The Tavis Smiley Show," August 8, 2008

"Senate Examines Higher Education Endowments," Perry Stein, Student Life, April 2, 2008

"Groups Combat Rising Student Loan Debt," Whitney Coleman, The Oklahoma Daily, March 25, 2008

"Big Vote On Campus," Kate Sheppard, February 25, 2008

"Nelson's amendment to education bills fails in House," John Wenz, Daily Nebraskan, July 23, 2007

"Federal Aid Fails Needy Students," Kate Sabatini and Pedro de la Torre III, The Baltimore Sun, May 16, 2007

"What About My Loan?" by Lindsey Luebchow, Higher Ed Watch, May 15, 2007

"Financial Aid Steering Students Toward ‘Preferred’ Lenders," Rattler Nation, May 02, 2007

"College Loans Scandal: Are You Getting the Best Deal?" Pedro de la Torre III, WireTap, April 26, 2007

"New Act Increases Financial Aid," Brian Bultema, The Chronicle, October 22, 2007

"Progressive Group Deploys Web Video and Mobile Student Debt Effort," by Kate Kaye, ClickZ News, October 31, 2006

"Injecting Policy into Conversations with Millenials," Future Majority, October 25, 2006

Read our October 23 Press Release