A 59-year-old Virginia woman with 3 degrees and $258K in student debt got this advice from Dave Ramsey

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant burden of student debt on millions of Americans, with approximately 43 million individuals holding outstanding student loans totaling over $1.6 trillion, which represents one in six adult Americans [1] Group 1: Student Debt Statistics - Nearly 43 million Americans are currently facing student loan debt, which totals more than $1.6 trillion [1] - About 10% of adults aged 45-59 have outstanding student loan debt, decreasing to 2% for those over 60 [3] Group 2: Individual Case Study - A case study is presented of an individual, Larhonda, who owes $258,000 in student loans, accumulated from three degrees and Parent PLUS Loans for her son [2] - Despite her educational qualifications, Larhonda is employed in logistics, earning approximately $60,000 annually [2] Group 3: Financial Advice - Financial expert Dave Ramsey suggests that individuals like Larhonda need to seek higher-paying job opportunities, particularly in fields like accounting, where starting salaries can vary significantly [4] - Becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) can increase average salaries to around $96,543, indicating a pathway to better financial outcomes [5] - Ramsey emphasizes that financial struggles are often not solely due to one's field of study or location, but rather the effective monetization of one's skills [5]