Exploring the Effect of Federal Student Loan Payment Resumption on Borrowers Through Sentiment and Textual Analysis Using X

Abstract

Student loans have taken on an increasingly significant role in funding the higher education experience and payments toward student loan debt have become an important part of many borrowers’ overall financial plan. Using Brandwatch, this study analyzes X data to better understand student loan borrower sentiment during the resumption of federal student loan payments in October 2023. During the period studied, negative references to student loans on the platform overtook positive sentiment overwhelmingly (46% negative versus 1% positive). Topics and phrases labeled negative sentiment ranked higher in mentions than those with positive or neutral sentiment in their respective categories. The findings highlight the need for financial planners to provide appropriate mental health resources to help borrowers manage negative feelings surrounding the federal student loan payment restart.