Stuck in MPH Student Loan Debt?

Average student loan debt in the United States has almost doubled since 1999 ($15,073 to $27,547 in 2011). As MPH-ers, we are not immune.

Many of us probably entered grad school with the notion that because our income was going to increase with an MPH, we could afford a student loan. Unfortunately, the economy is not offering us the jobs we were expecting and we go forward with our bachelor-wage jobs, wondering why the heck we even got an MPH.

The investment clock is ticking. According to financial expert Dave Ramsey, the sooner we can get out of debt, the greater of an impact we can have on our long-term investing potential. I’m talking like millions of dollars of a difference. I’d like to have that type of financial power to start my own non-profit…wouldn’t you?

Luckily, there are many resources out there that can help you with overcoming your student debt.

My husband and I tapped into the Dave Ramsey mindset soon after graduating because we wanted to get out of student loan debt as quickly as possible. We attended the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and learned about the 7 Baby Steps. We also learned about overcoming debt by practicing the debt snowball. According to Dave, this means paying off the smallest loans first and adding that monthly payment to the next highest debt. His book The Total Money Makeover walks you through how to make that happen.

Like you, I want to make a difference in this world. I know that I can’t make as big of a financial impact if I am up to my neck in student debt. I hope these resources will help you make progress on getting out of your MPH student loan debt as well.