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Changes over Time in College Student Credit Card Attitudes and Debt: Evidence from One Campus

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  • JILL M. NORVILITIS

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="joca12043-abs-0001"> Over the past 10 years, both public awareness of, and research about, college student credit card debt have increased. This study examined changes in college students' debt and possession of credit cards, as well as attitudes toward debt and credit cards over that time at one American college campus. Results indicate that the number of credit cards held and the amount of credit card debt both decreased in the time following the 2009 Credit CARD Act. Attitudes toward debt gradually became more negative over the past 10 years, whereas perceived personal financial well-being increased. Although debt is decreasing, some students continue to report high levels of debt and correlates of higher levels of debt continue to include year in school, decreased ability to delay gratification, and lower levels of perceived financial well-being. Overall, it appears that students' relationship with credit cards is changing, but many still have difficulty managing credit.

Suggested Citation

  • Jill M. Norvilitis, 2014. "Changes over Time in College Student Credit Card Attitudes and Debt: Evidence from One Campus," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3), pages 634-647, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:jconsa:v:48:y:2014:i:3:p:634-647
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/joca.12043
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cäzilia Loibl & Jodi Letkiewicz & Simon McNair & Barbara Summers & Wändi Bruine de Bruin, 2021. "On the association of debt attitudes with socioeconomic characteristics and financial behaviors," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 939-966, September.
    2. Benjamin D. Andrews, 2021. "College Costs and Credit Cards: How Student Credit Card Use Influences College Degree Attainment," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 62(6), pages 885-913, September.
    3. Popovich, Jacob J. & Loibl, Cäzilia & Zirkle, Christopher & Whittington, M. Susie, 2020. "Community college students’ response to a financial literacy intervention: An exploratory study," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 34(C).
    4. Catherine P. Montalto & Erica L. Phillips & Anne McDaniel & Amanda R. Baker, 2019. "College Student Financial Wellness: Student Loans and Beyond," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 3-21, March.

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