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Jillian Berman

@jillianberman.bsky.social
226 followers 57 following 23 posts

Deputy enterprise editor at MarketWatch, covering student loans, consumer debt and more. Get in touch! jberman@marketwatch.com.

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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Skepticism has been growing not just of higher ed, but of the BA. There are reasons to be worried: debt + unemployment. But the data on short-term programs shows the benefits can be fleeting. TLDR: There's no route to a decent financial life without risk. www.marketwatch.com/story/theres...
marketwatch.com
There’s a war on the bachelor’s degree. Can anything replace it?
The share of Americans with a bachelor’s degree has been going up for years. That’s about to change, if politicians get their way.
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
"I feel very powerless in this situation, which is a shame because I followed everything" and "It’s just a battle between presidents" -- these are 2 sentiments that sum up a lot of what I've been hearing from student loan borrowers over the past few years. www.marketwatch.com/story/millio...
marketwatch.com
Millions of student-loan borrowers have no idea how much they’re supposed to pay
Balances increasing, forgiveness paused — the “level of confusion is just crazy.”
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Student loan interest rates are starting for millions today + they're sorting through their options amid a lot of challenges in the system. As one told me "I just feel really stuck." www.marketwatch.com/story/studen...
marketwatch.com
Student-loan interest restarts today for millions. This is what you can do.
Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan will see their balances start to tick up
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Thanks to ex-ED undersecretary James Kvaal and @washingtonmonthly.com for this insightful discussion of my book, Sunk Cost! I particularly appreciate the comments on my approach to the stories of borrowers who so generously shared their time with me. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/06/18/s...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
The House version of the megabill is proposing major curbs to federal student lending + private lenders are 'very happy to step in for the government.' At a recent student loan industry conference it was a big topic of discussion. marketwatch.com/story/republ...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Thanks for reading and sharing @dcollier74.bsky.social! bsky.app/profile/dcol...
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Reposted by Jillian Berman
Melissa B. Jacoby @mbjacoby.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Were I in the DC area you would find me here. Book events at public libraries are a special thing. And opportunity to hear from a journalist with extensive experience reporting on student loans.
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
DC-area! I'll be talking about student debt tonight at the Shepherd Park library. Excited to share insights from my book SUNK COST at a local public library! Details here:
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Excited to see you there! If you're in Philly and interested in learning more about our student loan system, come by Making Worlds this Friday! bsky.app/profile/bake...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Before leaving office the Biden admin quietly announced it took steps to protect more of borrowers' Social Security benefits from being taken over a defaulted student loan. Now, as debt collection resumes, the Trump admin is reversing the policy. www.marketwatch.com/story/studen...
marketwatch.com
Student-loan borrowers in default could see Social Security benefits cut to $750
The Trump administration is reversing a Biden-era policy that would have protected a larger portion of monthly checks for some defaulted student-loan borrowers
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
I spoke with @thecut.com about the challenges some student loan borrowers are facing right now and their options for dealing with them: www.thecut.com/article/stud...
thecut.com
Student-Loan Debt Collectors Are Coming for Your Paycheck
Forced collections on student loans in default start next week. Some borrowers might be in for a nasty surprise.
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Excited for this tonight! bsky.app/profile/peop...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Today is pub day for SUNK COST, my book on the student debt crisis! It chronicles how a policy aimed at helping low- and middle-income Americans afford college became one of the biggest consumer finance challenges of our time. Order it here! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu
Sunk Cost
Exposes the forgotten origins of the student loan system, how politicians have attempted to fix it, and the life-altering damage borrowers face.   Student-loan horror stories are a dime a dozen. But s...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Excited to be at my neighborhood bookstore, People’s Book, on April 16 talking about SUNK COST. bsky.app/profile/peop...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
With millions of borrowers behind on student loan payments + applications for affordable repayment plans unavailable, the Trump admin is looking to slash customer service as part of its bid for efficiency. www.marketwatch.com/story/studen...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Had fun answering some questions for @ryanbeckwith.bsky.social's newsletter! yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/my-first-b...
yourfirstbyline.substack.com
My First Byline: Jillian Berman
Deputy Enterprise Editor, MarketWatch
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
“There’s not an articulation of exactly what is likely to return and what might continue to be frozen, and that’s just a very difficult place for any organization to operate, much less every aspect of American society.” www.marketwatch.com/story/from-m...
marketwatch.com
From Medicaid to student loans, scope of Trump budget gambit leaves Americans scrambling
Move to halt federal grant funding will create a “constitutional crisis,” a top Senate Democrat said.
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
My book Sunk Cost is coming in April! It exposes the forgotten origins of the student loan system, how politicians have tried to fix it, and the life-altering damage borrowers face. Pre-order here! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu
Sunk Cost
Exposes the forgotten origins of the student loan system, how politicians have attempted to fix it, and the life-altering damage borrowers face.   Student-loan horror stories are a dime a dozen. But s...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Pumped for this! bsky.app/profile/dali...
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
MarketWatch is on BlueSky! Follow @marketwatch.com for the latest on investing, personal finance and more!
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
He fought for years to win the disability benefits he was eligible for + a judge agreed the government owed him $97,000 in backpay. Then the check was stolen from the mail, putting him at risk of homelessness. www.marketwatch.com/story/a-stol...
marketwatch.com
A stolen $97,000 check, a bureaucratic nightmare — and an unlikely happy ending
Todd Kahler was on the verge of homelessness after his Social Security disability-benefit check was stolen from the mail. He got the money back, but it took tenacity and some outside help.
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Jillian Berman @jillianberman.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Trying this out! I'm reporter/editor with an expertise in student debt, sharing my latest: Tens of thousands of student loan borrowers were promised relief, they're still waiting and their worried about what the Trump admin will mean for the future of their loans. www.marketwatch.com/story/their-...
marketwatch.com
Their student loans should have been canceled already. What happens under Trump?
Pressure is building on the Biden administration to process promised student-loan cancellations in its waning days.
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