New AP-NORC Poll Reveals Divided Opinions Among Americans, Including Student Loan Borrowers, on Biden’s Student Loan Policies

President Joe Biden frequently discusses his efforts on student debt relief as he campaigns for reelection, highlighting the number of individuals who have benefited from cancellation during his tenure. However, a new poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that only three in 10 U.S. adults approve of Biden’s handling of the student loan debt issue, while 4 in 10 disapprove.

Even among those directly impacted by student loan debt, the approval ratings are not overwhelmingly positive. The poll shows that 36% of those responsible for unpaid student loans, either for themselves or family members, approve of Biden’s approach, while 34% disapprove.

Despite Biden’s focus on student debt relief in his campaign messaging, the poll indicates a significant divide on the issue among Americans. While the President continues to push for a new cancellation plan, targeting specific categories of borrowers, he is facing challenges in gaining support from key demographics such as young adults and Black and Hispanic Americans, who are more likely to prioritize student loan relief but have shown decreasing approval ratings for Biden.

The survey also sheds light on individual perspectives regarding Biden’s past and current efforts on student debt relief. Some individuals, like Asher Marshall from Jacksonville, Illinois, express disappointment in Biden’s initial cancellation plan, which was rejected by the Supreme Court last year. Marshall, who still plans to vote for Biden as the “lesser of two evils,” questions whether the President’s latest plan will resonate with other Black voters.

On the other hand, Melissa Mata from Houston, who has $14,000 in student loans, feels let down by Biden’s unfulfilled promises and intends to abstain from voting in the upcoming election or vote independently.

However, there are those like Samantha Kempf from Howell, Michigan, who acknowledge the challenges Biden faced with his initial plan being rejected by the Supreme Court but commend his efforts nonetheless. Kempf, a Democrat with $78,000 in federal student loans, believes Biden made a genuine attempt to address the issue of student debt.

The poll also highlights the differing views on student debt relief across political lines, with Republicans less likely to prioritize government intervention in this area compared to Democrats. While some Republicans, like Neil Wolf from Denton, North Carolina, oppose taxpayer-funded loan cancellation, others, like Steve Lesyk from Gap, Pennsylvania, are open to targeted relief for specific groups of borrowers.

Biden’s new plan for student debt relief aims to provide support to various categories of borrowers, but the poll indicates that there is no majority support for any specific group among Americans. Despite the challenges and divisions surrounding the issue, it remains a key point of contention in the political landscape.

The poll, conducted from May 16-21, 2024, surveyed 1,309 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.