Marquette University accused of pushing lower-income families toward risky loans

[Macallan 18]

https://www.wpr.org/news/marquette-university-accused-push-lower-income-families-risky-loans-student-debt

Marquette was one of 41 colleges named in a report by the progressive think tank New America, which alleges the schools encourage low-income families to take out Parent PLUS loans while at the same time offering financial aid to upper-income students.

Peter Granville, a fellow at the Century Foundation who studies college affordability, said the study sheds light on the important issue of how families pay for college and how colleges decide who gets financial help.

"This report argues that Marquette could have given families more grant aid, which would reduce their need for Parent PLUS loans. But the school didn't," Granville said. "One-third of Marquette Parent PLUS recipients also received the Pell Grant, which means their incomes are lower than average."

[#UnleashJosh]

Good old pell grant. Went to state school for free. Enjoy those loans losers!

[Skatastrophy]

Yeah poor people get crappy loan terms. That's how capitalism works, it's cheap and easy to get money if you don't need it. 

[rocky_warrior]

My parents took out a PLUS loan back in the day.  We're all good.  Thanks!

* it's only risky if your children are dumb.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

The State of Connecticut offers for state residents only what is essentially Parent Plus leans but the rates are significantly lower. 

[muwarrior69]

My parents took out a PLUS loan back in the day.  We're all good.  Thanks!

* it's only risky if your children are dumb.

My parents did not have to take out any loans and paid full tuition, books, and Room and Board because Marquette was affordable when I attended. My dad was an electrician at GM and my mom was a factory worker at J&J, a typical middle class blue collar family.

[The Sultan]

My parents did not have to take out any loans and paid full tuition, books, and Room and Board because Marquette was affordable when I attended. My dad was an electrician at GM and my mom was a factory worker at J&J, a typical middle class blue collar family.

It's not 1969 any longer.

[rocky_warrior]

My parents did not have to take out any loans and paid full tuition, books, and Room and Board because Marquette was affordable when I attended. My dad was an electrician at GM and my mom was a factory worker at J&J, a typical middle class blue collar family.

Both your parents had good paying jobs so you didn't have to take on debt for your college education!? 

Well done chap!

[muwarrior69]

It's not 1969 any longer.

No kidding and that is a bad thing? 

[muwarrior69]

Both your parents had good paying jobs so you didn't have to take on debt for your college education!? 

Well done chap!

...and how many parents like mine can pay full freight for a Marquette education today? The University did not have to push my parents into taking a risky loan because it was affordable for a middle class family and very little to do with "well paying jobs". Many of my classmates had parents who were Lawyers and Doctors and others with advanced degrees who earned far more than mine, yet we all paid the same tuition if not on some scholarship. Yes it is not the 1960s anymore but I am sure when it comes to college affordability many parents to day wish it was.

[rocky_warrior]

...and how many parents like mine can pay full freight for a Marquette education today?

That's a great question!  When gathering your data, I suggest you compare percentages from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s!

[#UnleashJosh]

...and how many parents like mine can pay full freight for a Marquette education today? The University did not have to push my parents into taking a risky loan because it was affordable for a middle class family and very little to do with "well paying jobs". Many of my classmates had parents who were Lawyers and Doctors and others with advanced degrees who earned far more than mine, yet we all paid the same tuition if not on some scholarship. Yes it is not the 1960s anymore but I am sure when it comes to college affordability many parents to day wish it was.

Muwarrior just now finding out college has become a scam in the past 30 years?

[The Sultan]

Muwarrior just now finding out college has become a scam in the past 30 years?

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/09/education-and-income.html

[BM1090]

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/09/education-and-income.html

It can have a positive impact on earnings and still be a scam/deeply flawed.

[The Sultan]

It can have a positive impact on earnings and still be a scam/deeply flawed.

It's clearly not a scam overall. Some colleges can be scams.

But yes, there are deep flaws throughout our educational system.

[#UnleashJosh]

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/09/education-and-income.html

Yes, this has zero to do with why college is a scam now.

Thanks though.

[#UnleashJosh]

It's clearly not a scam overall. Some colleges can be scams.

But yes, there are deep flaws throughout our educational system.

Yup, totally not a scam. Books that cost $400 each, with a new version out every year, that you need, so no 2nd hand.

40k Tuition per year. But you can take out a loan that you'll be paying off for the next 30 years. At 18, you make that decision.

Room and board exploded, another loan for that.

Oh and BTW, https://educationdata.org/college-enrollment-statistics Everyone now GOES to college. Around 2012, it was basically just another four years of high school, now grad school is the real college. Oh btw, another 20k per year...

Just a bit out of touch here sultan. But that doesn't shock anyone.

[The Sultan]

Yes, this has zero to do with why college is a scam now.

Thanks though.

Yup, totally not a scam. Books that cost $400 each, with a new version out every year, that you need, so no 2nd hand.

40k Tuition per year. But you can take out a loan that you'll be paying off for the next 30 years. At 18, you make that decision.

Room and board exploded, another loan for that.

Oh and BTW, https://educationdata.org/college-enrollment-statistics Everyone now GOES to college. Around 2012, it was basically just another four years of high school, now grad school is the real college. Oh btw, another 20k per year...

Just a bit out of touch here sultan. But that doesn't shock anyone.

Oh.

So you have no f*cking clue what "scam" actually means. Let me enlighten you. People aren't getting cheated out of their money. They aren't getting tricked into paying for things. (At most places.)

College is a high cost investment that people make hope that it makes their lives better - financially and otherwise. It is not a guaranty by any means, and many families can't cash flow it easily, and that's where problems arise.

I am all on board for having conversations about why college costs so much, and how we as a society can make it more affordable. But using phrases like "scam" quickly seperate those who engage in serious thought from those who just say sh*t. To no one's surprise, you seem firmly in the latter category.

[Billy Hoyle]

Good old pell grant. Went to state school for free. Enjoy those loans losers!

Today, a maximum Pell Grant wouldn't cover a semester of FT tuition at Buckyville.

I was fortunate to only had to take out minimal loans for undergrad (and my parents did take out PLUS loans), but I did have to take out larger loans for grad school. I was fully aware that my choice of school had financial consequences. The day I paid them off was such a feeling of accomplishment. I bought myself a Midleton Very Rare to celebrate.

[Billy Hoyle]

My parents took out a PLUS loan back in the day.  We're all good.  Thanks!

* it's only risky if your children are dumb.

"The cash-strapped families often have little choice but to take out these risky loans."

Well, there's the choice to go to UWGB, Lacrosse, UWM, Madison, Minnesota, St. Cloud State, Mankato, Duluth, etc at in-state tuition rates if the student is a Wisconsin or Minnesota resident. Or, there's the choice to attend Marquette.

[Jay Bee]

Yup, totally not a scam. Books that cost $400 each, with a new version out every year, that you need, so no 2nd hand.

40k Tuition per year. But you can take out a loan that you'll be paying off for the next 30 years. At 18, you make that decision.

Room and board exploded, another loan for that.

Oh and BTW, https://educationdata.org/college-enrollment-statistics Everyone now GOES to college. Around 2012, it was basically just another four years of high school, now grad school is the real college. Oh btw, another 20k per year...

Just a bit out of touch here sultan. But that doesn't shock anyone.

Oooh, noooo! The poor 18 year olds making that decision.

Coming from the same ze who thinks 8 yo's chopping their dils off is cool. 

I certainly believe college is not for everyone and a lot of bad decisions are made (both where people attend and the major(s)/coursework selected are often a bad decision), but I don't have much sympathy for the 'they're too young and don't know what they are doing -- you tricked them!' re: 18 year olds.

But, if we bring everything together - gender reassignment, voting, college decisions, and many other things - and talk about what is too young or too old, can have that discussion.

#FreeMarquette

[Pakuni]

Coming from the same ze who thinks 8 yo's chopping their dils off is cool. 

Do you also believe America's classrooms are stocked with kitty litter?

[GB Warrior]

Do you also believe America's classrooms are stocked with kitty litter?

Just at TCU

[#UnleashJosh]

Oh.

So you have no f*cking clue what "scam" actually means. Let me enlighten you. People aren't getting cheated out of their money. They aren't getting tricked into paying for things. (At most places.)

College is a high cost investment that people make hope that it makes their lives better - financially and otherwise. It is not a guaranty by any means, and many families can't cash flow it easily, and that's where problems arise.

I am all on board for having conversations about why college costs so much, and how we as a society can make it more affordable. But using phrases like "scam" quickly seperate those who engage in serious thought from those who just say sh*t. To no one's surprise, you seem firmly in the latter category.

Coming from the same ze who thinks 8 yo's chopping their dils off is cool. 


But, if we bring everything together - gender reassignment, voting, college decisions, and many other things - and talk about what is too young or too old, can have that discussion.

#FreeMarquette

Oh look the resident idiot nazi.

Just because I believe that your a nazi, and trump is a 2nd hitler, doesn't mean I agree that with everything on the left side. I also absolutely agree that 12 year olds shouldn't be having gender reassignment surgeries or hormone blockers.

However, one of these is an INSANELY niche thing, that effects a very small portion of our population, and another effects pretty much every 18 year old.

We can focus on just the college.

[Jay Bee]

Just because I believe that your a nazi
...
We can focus on just the college.

^^ bruh couldn't even focus on third grade.