A recent survey of over 1,000 parents of K-12 students found that 89% feel financial pressure from school costs, with 39% feeling it most before school even starts. This pressure leads many parents to take on debt, with 60% of parents carrying school-related debt and most planning to add more this fall.

Causes of School-Related Debt

The survey, conducted by Centiment for Accredited Debt Relief, reveals that parents are seeking financing to cover school costs more often than in past years. Fifty-three percent of parents say they rely on financing more now than they did three years ago, with 26% saying they rely on it significantly more. Clothing and shoes are the most burdensome expenses, named by 37% of parents as one of their two most burdensome expenses.

Among parents earning $80,000 or more, 60% carry an active school-related debt balance. The numbers back the pressure parents are feeling, with the National Retail Federation expecting back-to-school shoppers to spend $858 on average in 2025, and total K-12 spending up $600 million since 2024.

Consequences of School-Related Debt

Paying off school debt quickly is the exception, with only 23% of parents clearing their school-related charges in the same month. Nearly two-thirds of parents pay over time, stretching anywhere from one month to more than 12 months, with interest accruing the longer it takes. This can lead to a cycle of debt, with parents having to manage both existing debt payments and new school-related spending.

Seventy-six percent of parents say school-related costs have led to at least one financial trade-off, such as making minimum payments on debt, postponing savings or debt payoff, or delaying bills. Some families have even sacrificed important expenses, like cutting back on everyday essentials or keeping a child out of an activity due to the cost.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.