Higher Ed Utah

(SL Tribune) – While the default rate by student borrowers continues to inch upward nationally, Utah’s contribution to the growing default crisis continues to decline, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of Education.

Since 2005, Utah’s student loan default rate steadily slipped from 4.3 to 1.9 percent, less than one-fourth the national average, the Utah System of Higher Education reported. For students who began repaying loans in 2008, Utah has the lowest default rate in the nation behind Montana, said David Feitz, executive director of the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA).

Officials credited low student-debt loads and the state’s special programs to service student borrowers.

When a Utah borrower becomes delinquent in loan payments, a special UHEAA prevention team member calls to help formulate a plan that will enable the borrower to get and stay current on the loan.

“Credit goes to our students who are responsible for paying their loans back,” Feitz said.

The entire article is available here.